By Olayemi Esan
No fewer than 154 children orphaned on the account of activities of insurgents have on Wednesday graduated from the Northeast Children’s Trust School also known as “The Learning Center.”
The number is out of about five hundred pupils studying in the specialized school.
The school which was established specifically for vulnerable children orphaned by the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, was commissioned in 2019 by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and commenced operations with 525 children.
According to the Headmaster of the Learning Center, Mr Sikiru Olawoyin, he said the school was “structured and committed toward providing sustainable, life changing assistance with facilities carefully tailored to reintegrate these children into society and equip them with the necessary skills to live successful lives.”
Sikiru said that out of the 154 graduating pupils, about 80 of them are girls while the remaining are boys.
In her presentations at the school premises in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Dr. Mariam Masha, the Executive Secretary of the Northeast Children’s Trust, said the Graduands were trained in various skills and vocations in addition to the conventional education curriculum in line with the present realities.
“The Learning Center is more than just a school. It is a place to nurture, empower and renew our children and I believe right here before us, is proof that the North East Children’s Trust is able to deliver on that mandate.
“Having witnessed your development and progress over these years we can boldly say that you are ready to face the world because we have heard from you,” said Masha.
She said that the pupils were trained in coding and programming, computer web design and agricultural programmes and other vocations to make them develop an enterpreneural mindset that will make them self-dependent and sufficient.
“Our vision at NECT is to create a safe learning environment for children in North-East Nigeria and provide comprehensive support to vulnerable children affected by the crises so that they can become agents of socio-economic development in their communities and Nigeria at large,” the Executive secretary noted.
