Inflow of IDPs strain educational facilities in Bauchi

The sustained inflow of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by the insurgency into Bauchi is stretching educational facilities in the state beyond their already overstretched capacity.

This was disclosed on Thursday by Nuhu Gidado, Bauchi State Commissioner of Education, during the “Northern Education Initiative (NEI) Plus State Level One Work Plan Workshop”, organised by USAID Nigeria in collaboration with State Ministry of Education.

The Commissioner who was represented Nasiru Mohammed Yelwa, Permanent Secretary, said “North East sub region has witnessed massive destruction especially of educational facilities. Any intervention no matter how small is highly welcome.”

Yelwa added, “Bauchi was relatively peaceful but the aftermath of these various forms of conflicts led to a large influx of people from neighbouring Maiduguri even Plateau, Yobe and Adamawa, which affected Bauchi both directly and indirectly.”

He expressed confidence that the recent launch of NEI plus an offshoot of NEI would address the problems of education in the state saying the project is timely and well designed.

STEPHEN ONYEKWELU