Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on Fulani community leaders to prioritise formal education for their children, using lighthearted engagement to address the low school enrolment rates among pastoralist groups.
The Vice President made these remarks during a visit to Borno State, where he was scheduled to commission several critical infrastructure projects. The visit focused on strengthening the state’s healthcare and educational sectors through new facilities in Maiduguri.
During his interaction with local stakeholders, Shettima bantered with Fulani friends regarding their reluctance to enrol children in school, encouraging them to embrace formal learning to improve the long-term prospects of their youth.
Nigeria continues to face a high number of out-of-school children, with pastoralist and nomadic communities often being disproportionately affected. Cultural traditions and the mobile nature of certain livelihoods frequently create barriers to consistent school attendance, making community engagement a key part of the government’s educational strategy.
Expansion of Borno infrastructure
The Vice President’s visit included the inauguration of a 400-bed teaching hospital at the state-owned Kashim Ibrahim University. The facility is designed to increase medical training capacity and provide advanced healthcare services to residents of Borno State.
Additionally, Shettima commissioned the Yerwa Practice Mega School in Maiduguri. The new school is intended to provide enhanced educational facilities to meet the rising demand for secondary education in the state capital.
These projects are part of a broader effort to rebuild and develop the North-East following years of insurgency. By investing in healthcare and education, the administration aims to build human capital and provide the necessary social infrastructure to support economic stability in the region.
Despite the provision of new schools and hospitals, local officials have noted that achieving high enrolment and retention rates among nomadic populations remains a persistent challenge that requires ongoing community dialogue.
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