In a significant move to boost education and economic recovery, Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has officially opened a fully renovated educational facility designed specifically for vulnerable women and girls.
A New Learning Hub for Women in Biu
On Thursday, January 8, 2026, Governor Zulum commissioned the remodelled "second chance school" located in Biu Local Government Area. This initiative is strategically crafted to offer adult women, particularly those who missed out on formal schooling or were forced to drop out, a renewed opportunity to learn.
While unveiling the facility, Governor Zulum emphasized its role in fostering self-reliance. He stated that the school would be instrumental for the development of Biu and its surrounding communities in the state's Southern Senatorial District.
The school's curriculum is not conventional. It is tailored to provide comprehensive skills acquisition, blending critical digital knowledge with foundational literacy and numeracy training suitable for adult learners.
Expanding Educational Access and Economic Empowerment
With the launch of the Biu centre, the Zulum administration has now established three such second-chance schools across Borno State. Similar learning centres are already operational in the state capital, Maiduguri, and in Bama.
In a parallel development to stimulate the local economy, Governor Zulum disbursed a sum of N1 billion to small and medium-scale entrepreneurs (SMEs) operating in five LGAs within the district.
He described the direct injection of take-off capital as essential for driving grassroots development and building self-reliance, which are critical in the ongoing post-insurgency recovery phase. The grants are targeted at supporting business owners in Biu, Hawul, Shani, Kwaya-Kusar, and Bayo—areas that border Gombe State.
Addressing Unemployment and Healthcare
Further demonstrating a multi-pronged approach to state development, Governor Zulum took immediate action to tackle youth unemployment. He ordered the employment of 200 young individuals from Biu Local Council, a move aimed at curbing restiveness and providing opportunities.
His tour also included a visit to the Biu Specialist Hospital along the Garkida-Gombi road. There, he announced the automatic absorption into permanent employment of a number of volunteer health workers who have been providing dedicated service at the facility.
Additionally, the Governor inspected a 100-unit teachers' housing estate under construction in Biu town. He described the project as part of a broader strategy to attract and retain qualified teaching staff for public schools in the state.
To boost local infrastructure and hospitality, Zulum directed the immediate commencement of rehabilitation works on the Borno State Hotel (BOSH) Annex located within Biu township.
