By Dauda R Pam
Borno state government under the ministry of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Resettlement (MRRR), will establish a unit for the monitoring and regulating proper accountability and prudent management of funds donated by the International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) operating in the state.
This was disclosed by the state governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, while launching the European Union support to response, recovery and resilience in Borno.
Prof.Babagana Umara Zulum, said, Borno state government is totally committed to the provision of quality education to all citizens and thanked the European Union for supporting the state with 20 million Euros for the educational development in the state.
He then directed the ministry of education and the Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) to meet with the development partners so that programmes and activities of the INGOs should be properly monitored.
The governor expressed optimism that with the intervention of these INGOs such as UNICEF, EU and Plan International, the education sector will be improved as out of school children and IDPs will have access to quality education.
According to prof Zulum, Borno state government is not against any INGOs operating in the state but that government must be aware of their existence as to what they do and where, adding that, the government must take full control over their activities.
In their separate remarks, the representatives of the development partners, Mr Kurt Cornelius of the EU, Mr Geoffrey of UNICEF and that of Plan International, Dr Ori Oboreke spoke on areas of their individual interventions aimed at improving the quality of education in the state that was hitherto destroyed by Boko Haram insurgency.
Speaking at the occasion, the permanent secretary federal ministry of budget and national planning, represented by Mr Chamberlain Okoro, thanked the development partners for coming to the aid of the affected States by providing funds to train teachers and for aiding the building of destroyed structures in schools.
Earlier, the ministerial secretary in the ministry of RRR, Alh Ali kaka, thanked the development partners and urged them to cooperate and work with the ministry of RRR to achieve the desired result and objectives.
Highlights of the event included power point presentation by the representative of the INGOs and the presentation of a student of Kamsulum Primary School who hails from gwoza local government, an IDP, who as a result of the partnership, is able to have quality education.
