Governor  Kashim Shettima of Borno State yesterday, said government would soon re-open public schools in the state, almost five months after they were shut down, following increased attacks by Boko Haram.
He also vowed to continue to focus on education of women. He said the government would be paying stipends to parents especially in northern Borno, to encourage them to send their children to schools, adding that one meal per day would be given to the students. “For our people in the hinterland, poverty is not a philosophical debate but reality of their life,” he stated. He said many people may write off Borno as a place known for killings and insurgency, but maintained that the state would overcome its present security challenge, stressing that he was passionate about education as foundation for development.
“I’m passionate about gender empowerment, I mean education of women. If we must develop as a state, we must empower our children through quality education. Educate a woman, as the saying goes, and you would have educated a family and by extension, a nation,” Shettima said in Maiduguri, while presenting admission letters to 20 young women sponsored by the state government to the Khartoum College of Medicine, Sudan to study medicine.
He said history would judge leaders in the country harshly if they failed to develop public schools to ensure children of those not privileged, have access to good education.
“We have to invest in the future of our state and the future lies in education,” he said, adding that he would be happy seeing more medical doctors in the state and other professionals even if he is no longer in the office as the governor.
He urged the 20 students to work hard to succeed. “Don’t scandalize us there because of the freedom you may enjoy. Be of good conduct and exhibit all seriousness not only in your studies but also in morality. Don’t do anything that will bring disrepute to our state and your families,” he counseled.

Borno schools to open soon –Shettima