Insurgency: UNICEF flags off renovations of 40 schools damaged by Boko Haram in Adamawa

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has started renovations of 40 primary schools, destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents in Adamawa state.

The projects, which is expected to cost N25million, would be carried out in seven local governments areas affected by the insurgency in the state.

Each school is expected to benefit at least a block of two classrooms; some three depending on their proposals and magnitude of damages.

Performing the official flag off program in Balwhona primary school in Gombi local government area, Commissioner for Education in the state Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, said the projects is being financed by UNICEF, while the physical labor would be carried out by the benefitting communities.

Represented by Francis Pius at the occasion, Farauta explained that UNICEF would extended the renovation projects to cover the state, in its second phase aimed at accommodating children that abandoned classes following IDPs taking over primary schools and host communities.

Pius said 47 more primary school would benefit from second phase of the project, to cover the entire state to make learning conducive for IDPs returnees in the state.

The commissioner also noted that, ministry of Education has inaugurated monitoring and Evaluation of committee to supervise the renovation projects for quality job.

Chairman of Gombi local government, represented by his deputy, Hon. Briska Tadawus, gave the assurance that the project would jointly be executed by communal efforts through the SBMC committee of the benefiting schools.

He said Head of Mobilization of the local government would do the supervision in partnership with local education authority (LEA).

Tadawus ,expressed confidence in the leadership of SBMCs stressing that traditional rulers,parents and officials from local government are to serve as monitoring committee.

Chairman, School Base Management Committee (SBMC ), Gombi local government, Abbdullahi Mohammed, however, said the communities have concluded arrangement to contribute their quotas to achieve the laudable project.

Mohammed said the committee have mobilized Mothers Association to do the cocking, carpenters masons,and painters to do the work free of charge.

The purchasing of the building materials according to him, would be done by representatives from the committee to ensure transparency and accountability.

District Head of Gombi, Alhaji Shauibu Barde, who was represented by village head of Balwhona, Usman Ibrahim, lauded the efforts of UNICEF for the intervention supports while reiterating determination to ensure judicious use of the funds.

He urged for more supports from governments,donor agencies and individuals in health and education to rebuild the area.

All SBMCs chairmen and secretaries of the seven benefiting local governments attended the occasion.

Local governments to benefit from the renovation projects include Madagali, Michika, Mubi-North, Mubi-South, Maiha, Hong and Gombi.