The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), in partnership with the European Union (EU), has extended its educational funding to support 56,000 out-of-school children in Borno State, including 30,000 girls and 26,000 boys.
During the program’s inauguration, themed “Enhancing Access to Safe and Quality Education for Vulnerable, Conflict-Affected Children in Borno State, North-East Nigeria,” JRS Country Director Rev. Temple Anuforo highlighted the ongoing displacement caused by camp closures in Borno. This displacement has overwhelmed already strained infrastructure, severely limiting access to safe and quality education for children affected by conflict and displacement.
Rev. Anuforo noted that as of 2022, Nigeria had over 18 million children out of school, with approximately 1.8 million residing in Borno State. This alarming statistic served as the foundation for initiating the project.
The initial phase of the initiative, spanning from 2023 to June 2025, was jointly funded by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and implemented collaboratively by JRS and the Centre for Advocacy, Transparency and Accountability Initiatives (CATAI). The project positively impacted more than 25,000 individuals, providing essential educational support. The country director recalled the inspiring feedback shared by stakeholders during the project’s closing meeting in June 2025.
“Thanks to ECHO’s generous support, this new phase not only builds upon the achievements of the previous project but also strengthens and broadens its reach. Beyond the areas of Dikwa and Monguno, the program will now extend to Ngala, a local government area currently underserved by humanitarian efforts amid a worsening educational crisis,” Anuforo explained.
“Over the next 24 months, this initiative aims to benefit more than 56,000 children-nearly 30,000 girls and over 26,000 boys-aged 6 to 17 years. These children, whether internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, refugees, or members of host communities, will have the opportunity to learn in a secure and nurturing environment. Today’s event celebrates a journey of sustained progress and hopeful expansion,” he added.
Muazu Abubakar Sadiq, Executive Director of CATAI, emphasized that the continuation of the project reflects the positive outcomes of its first phase and the urgent need to provide educational access in insurgency-affected regions such as Dikwa and Ngala.
“Our goal in expanding this program is to collaborate more effectively with government bodies to tackle the issue of out-of-school children and to enhance efforts to keep girls enrolled in school. We are committed to ensuring that girls receive quality education, including support for menstrual hygiene management. Additionally, we assist caregivers through income-generating activities to discourage sending children to work on farms instead of attending school,” Sadiq stated.
