154 orphans on Wednesday graduated from the Northeast Children’s Trust School, known as ‘the learning center,’ out of the over 500 orphans schooling in the specialised school.

The school, built specifically for vulnerable children orphaned by the Boko Haram insurgency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states of the Northeast subregion, was inaugurated by Vice -President Yemi Osinbajo in 2019 shortly after which it commenced operations, with 525 vulnerable children enrolled.

According to the headmaster of the learning center, Sikiru Olawoyin, the school was “structured and committed to providing sustainable, life-changing assistance, with facilities carefully tailored to reintegrate the children into society and equip them with the necessary skills to live successful lives.”

Sikiru disclosed that, of the 154 graduating pupils, about 80 of them were girls who were carefully selected, while the rest were boys.

In her presentations at the school premises in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, Dr. Mariam Masha, the executive secretary of the Northeast children’s trust, said the Graduands were trained in various skills and vocation in addition to the conventional education curriculum in line with the present realities of life.

“The Learning Center is more than just a school. It is a place to nurture, empower and renew our children and I believe right here before us, is proof that the North East Children’s Trust is able to deliver on that mandate.
Having witnessed your development and progress over these years we can boldly say that you are ready to face the world because we have heard from you. Dr. Mariam Masha disclosed.

She said the pupils were trained in coding and programming, computer web design and agricultural programmes and other vocations to make them develop an entrepreneurial mindset that will make them self dependent and sufficient in the future.

“Our vision at NECT is to create a safe learning environment for children in North-East Nigeria and provide comprehensive support to vulnerable children affected by the crises so that they can become agents of socio-economic development in their communities and Nigeria at large. The Executive secretary noted.

Earlier in his address the headteacher of the learning center, Sikiru Olawoyin disclosed that the graduating pupils will continue their education at selected Government secondary schools within Maiduguri as partnership has been entered into with the state government to absorb the vulnerable children into their schools. While the Northeast children’s trust takes care of their tuition and other welfare.