Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, revealed that over a decade-long insurgency in the region has left more than one hundred thousand children orphaned.
The governor shared this information during the foundation laying ceremony for various projects, including an orphanage, sponsored by the Qatar Charity Foundation in Maiduguri, the state capital.
Governor Zulum expressed gratitude to the Qatar Charity Foundation for selecting Borno State for these initiatives.
He highlighted the state government’s efforts in resettling over one million displaced persons out of the three million affected by the conflict.
Emphasizing the gravity of the situation, he mentioned the identification of over 100,000 orphans due to the Boko Haram crisis, with unofficial figures potentially being even higher.
The representative of Qatar Foundation in Nigeria, Sheikh Hamdin Bin Abdul, conveyed pleasure in laying the foundation for the projects.
He stated that the initiative, planned since 2015, would extend its reach to all twenty-seven Local Government Areas in the state, aiming to positively impact the lives of the people.
Sheikh Hamdin explained that the Qatar Charity Foundation’s projects encompass diverse sectors, including water resources, social housing, economic empowerment, health, education, and social services for widows and orphans.
The extensive list of projects includes a school, orphanage, clinic, shops, staff quarters, sports ground, charity office, and a Juma’at mosque.
Governor Zulum expressed optimism, stating, “It gives me pleasure to stand here today to lay the foundation for the construction of the projects.
I have been working towards this since 2015, and today we have seen the light at the end of the tunnel.” The governor’s appreciation reflected the potential positive impact on the lives of the people in Borno State through these comprehensive initiatives.
