By Our Reporter
One hundred and twenty-two schoolgirls who grew up amid Boko Haram’s violence are returning home with a new role — to campaign for peace across their communities.
The girls, now students of the Girl Child Concerns Academy in Maiduguri, completed a peacebuilding programme supported by the Borno State Government and the Embassy of Switzerland. Most of them once lived in displacement camps before being enrolled in school.
At their graduation on Sunday, Dr Mairo Mandara, the governor’s coordinator on Sustainable Development, Partnerships and Humanitarian Support, said the aim was to equip the children with skills to help rebuild trust in communities still recovering from conflict.
“They will be talking about peace with their families, friends and wider community,” she said. “The idea is to help ensure Borno returns to being one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.”
The girls, drawn from JSS 1 and 2, received lessons in conflict resolution, leadership and community dialogue. Mandara said the focus was on civic responsibility, stressing that the programme offered no financial incentives.
“We are not giving them incentives. This is their civic duty. We are only teaching them to do what they were created to do,” she said.
Mohammed Mubaraq, CEO of My IT Consult, said the initiative was part of efforts to stabilise communities as normal life gradually returns.
“This training is one of the most vital investments we can make as Borno rebuilds,” he said. “We have instilled civic responsibility and leadership qualities in these ambassadors of peace.”
The school’s principal, Uwani Abubakar Ladan, said many of the girls had experienced hardship during displacement but were now returning home more confident and better prepared to support reconciliation efforts.
Students such as Blessing Bulus and Aishatu Isa said they hoped to use their new skills to promote tolerance and calm tensions during the Christmas holidays.
The training was supported by AHF, CATAI, ICRS, the Embassy of Switzerland and other partners.