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In a time where actions speak louder than promises, the recent payment of millions of naira by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), through the Ministry of Education, isn’t just another financial transaction — it’s a bold testament to a vision of educational transformation in Borno State. Under the able leadership of Hon. Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, this move sends a clear signal: education in Borno is not an afterthought; it is the future.
This strategic investment not only lightens the burden on thousands of parents but also guarantees that the academic dreams of Borno’s students won’t be truncated by financial hurdles. In a region recovering from years of instability, such gestures aren’t just administrative wins — they’re symbols of hope.
And speaking of hope, the re-establishment of WAEC and NECO examination centres in Askira Uba is a game-changer. For too long, students in this part of the state had to grapple with long journeys, security risks, and uncertainty just to sit for their final exams. Thanks to Engr. Wakilbe’s tenacity, that era is over. With a single decision, he restored dignity, accessibility, and ambition to a community once left behind.
But Wakilbe is not stopping there.
The implementation of the World Bank-supported Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) is another feather in his cap. Under his watch, the project is not only building classrooms, but futures. Vulnerable girls are being equipped with digital tools, life skills, and confidence to thrive in a modern world. This is more than infrastructure — it’s empowerment in motion.
Wakilbe’s style of leadership is strategic, inclusive, and deeply rooted in quality. He is orchestrating one of the most rigorous school quality assurance programs the state has ever seen, uniting key education agencies like SUBEB, TSB, and BOSASEB under a unified mission: no compromise on standards.
His interventions are practical and impactful. From providing bicycles to make the journey to school safer, to distributing uniforms, books, and school furniture — the Ministry under his leadership is putting students first. Even the internal operations of the Ministry of Education are receiving an upgrade, showing that this transformation isn’t skin-deep — it’s structural.
Crucially, Engr. Wakilbe has taken a decisive stand against the unchecked proliferation of illegal private schools. By instituting clear guidelines for accreditation and re-accreditation, he is cleaning up the sector to ensure only quality-driven institutions thrive in Borno’s educational space.
In truth, what we are witnessing is more than policy — it’s passion. Governor Zulum may be the architect of Borno’s recovery, but Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe is the engineer driving the education blueprint with remarkable precision.
Together, they represent a rare breed of leadership — intentional, visionary, and people-centered.
At a time when education is underfunded and undervalued in many places, Borno is blazing a trail. Zulum and Wakilbe are showing that where there is purpose, there is progress. And if this momentum continues, it won’t be long before Borno becomes a beacon of educational excellence not just in the North East, but across Nigeria.
Indeed, Borno’s tomorrow is being built in its classrooms today — and it is in very capable hands.
Comrade Abubakar El-Biddeen
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