Insurgency: Zulum awards N300m scholarship to 300 orphans in Borno

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Tuesday, flagged off a scholarship scheme worth N300 million in support of 300 orphans whose parents died as volunteers under the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) vigilantes and hunters in the state.

The volunteers were involved in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency alongside the military and other armed forces in Borno State.

Zulum at the launch held at the Government House in Maiduguri said the N300 million was to cover all educational needs of the 300 orphans throughout their basic education levels, in the first stage, before further support at future levels of education.

The governor had, during his 2020 budget presentation, promised support for the orphans under the ‘Borno Heroes Support Program’.

Governor Zulum, on Tuesday, also approved livelihood support of N15 million to mothers and other guardians of the 300 orphans.

Each of the 300 mothers or guardians received N50,000 along with a bag of rice, a bag of maize, and clothing materials.

This is just as the governor announced a 35 per cent increase of monthly allowances paid to volunteers.

The allowances were raised from 20,000 to 30,000 monthly, while he also approved an end-of-the-year bonus for all the volunteers

Zulum, in June 2019, increased the allowances from 15,000 to 20,000 and change the payment system from a table to an individual account which made the payment faster.

Governor Zulum also approved an end-of-the-year bonus for all the volunteers.

In their remarks, the chairman of a committee set up by Zulum for selection of the 300 orphans, Barr. Kaka Shehu Lawan, and the Theatre Commander of ‘Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Christopher Musa, lauded the governor’s initiative.

Shehu who is the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Borno Central senatorial seat, was appointed while he was commissioner of justice whose ministry oversees affairs of the volunteers through a department dealing with public rights to safety.

The Star

Segun Ojo