Buhari's PINE brings education to Borno IDPs as Osinbajo launches 'container-classrooms'

yetunde oyeleke

September 30, 2015 4:11 PM

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) of school age have been given access to formal education as President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday launched container-classrooms at IDP camps in Borno state.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) of school age have been given access to formal education as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday launched container-classrooms at IDP camps in Borno state.

The container-classrooms were provided by President Muhammadu Buhari's Presidential Initiative for the North East (PINE), Daily Trust reports.

Represented by Dr. Maryam Masha, the Vice President said Buhari has assured that the Federal Government will support Borno as the rebuilding efforts continue in the North-East.

"We are looking at education because it is vital to the children's future," Osinbajo said.

"I would like to use this opportunity to thank all those who are partners like Borno State government through Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education as well as UNICEF."

READ: Osinbajo unveils Buhari's plans for displaced children

The Vice President, who in August stated that Buhari had made plans for the education of internally displaced children, noted that the launch of PINE indicates the Federal Government's commitment.

The Director General of the PINE programme, Professor Adesoji Adelaja, earlier highlighted the role of education in driving development and fighting unemployment.

READ: 58,000 Displaced Persons 'Kick' Borno Students Out Of School

"Education is a powerful driver of development," Adelaja said.

"It is the strongest instrument for reducing poverty.

"Evidence shows that only one year of secondary education for a girl correlates with as much as 25 per cent increase in wages later in life.

"Such wages can help support children and family in the future".

Borno, one of the states most affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, plays hosts to over 58,000 internally displaced persons.

READ: Terrorists Abduct 200 Teenage School Girls in Borno

The insurgency led to the closure of all schools in the state in March 2013 after they were severally targeted by members of the Boko Haram sect.

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