Stakeholders in the education sector, including teachers, parents, youth leaders, women groups and government officials, on Tuesday converged on Damboa for a town hall meeting aimed at tackling the growing number of out-of-school children in the area.
The meeting, themed “Inspiring Girls, Inspiring Communities: Education for Sustainable Development in Damboa LGA,” was organised by the Zenith of the Girl Child and Women Initiative Support (ZEGCAWIS) in collaboration with the Borno State Ministry of Education, Science, Innovation and Technology, with funding support from the Malala Fund.
The engagement, held as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, focused on the dangers, threats and systemic gaps within Damboa’s education system, as well as opportunities for improving school enrolment, retention and safe learning.
Speaking at the event, Aishatu Alhaji Kabu, representative of ZEGCAWIS, said the rising statistics of out-of-school children in Borno — estimated at over 700,000, including those in Damboa — remained alarming.
“This is not just a statistic; it reflects interrupted childhoods, unrealised dreams and communities struggling to recover from conflict, poverty and harmful social norms,” she said.
Kabu noted that since 2023, ZEGCAWIS had worked across communities to raise awareness, train teachers, influence policy reforms and amplify the voices of adolescent girls advocating for their right to education.
“We have witnessed the courage of teachers, traditional leaders and girls who believe education is not a privilege but a pathway to dignity, opportunity and peace,” she added.
According to her, denying girls education amounts to a form of violence and discrimination that exposes them to early marriage and limits their opportunities to contribute to society. She emphasised that education serves as both a protection tool and an empowerment strategy for communities.
In his remarks, the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, commended the organisers and reaffirmed government commitment to strengthening access to quality education. He urged parents, traditional leaders and community groups to support school re-enrolment and ensure students complete 12 years of formal education.
The Executive Chairman of Damboa Local Government was also praised for mobilising stakeholders and supporting the convening of the dialogue.
Representatives of partner organisations, including the Bridge for Women Development Initiative, Giscor, and the Network of Civil Society Organisations, also expressed support for collaborative solutions to improve learning outcomes in the LGA.
Among those present were UNFPA Humanitarian Coordinator Macauley Chris Sabum, the Director of Women Development, Ministry of Women Affairs, and representatives of the Damboa Youth Development Association, among others.
Participants agreed that sustainable improvement in school enrolment and retention requires collective commitment from government authorities, traditional and religious institutions, community groups, teachers and parents.
