Kwaya Kusar Local Government Area of Borno has enrolled 119 out-of-school children and rewarded the best teacher with N500,000.

Dahiru Hamma, the chairman of the council, said during the event in Kwaya Kusar town on Monday that the initiative was meant to complement Governor Babagana Zulum’s efforts to improve the education sector.

Mr Hamma said that his desire was to ensure that all children in his council who are out-of-school were returned to school to benefit from the government’s investment in the education sector.

According to him, it would be unfair that, with the resources the state government is investing in the education sector, some children are not in school to get the education they need to realise their dreams in life.

“What we are doing today is to take advantage of Gov Zulum’s investment in education to ensure that no child in our council is left behind.

“We are particular about what our children could become if well educated; that’s why we have taken 119 vulnerable children out of the street and enrolled them into school.

“All they need- books, bags, shoes, uniforms, writing materials, socks have been provided for them.

“So, we are working to see that all vulnerable children are taken out of the streets and enrolled on school,” he said.

On the reward to Saidu Mohammed, the best teacher in the council, the chairman said that the gesture was to encourage him and his colleagues and to send the message that “hard work and commitment to duty pay.”

“Having considered his commitment to work and punctuality amongst others, we have selected him out of many others to be given N500, 000 as his reward,” he said.

Mr Hamma said that while the school rewards excellence, it would not, however, condone late coming and truancy amongst teachers.

Also speaking, the chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) in Borno, Garba Zali, commended Hamma for taking “this bold move to encourage our members and make teachers in the council happy.”

Mr Zali also commended Mr Zulum for giving cars to motivate teachers in the state, while urging his members across the state to continue to do their best.

The Emir of Biu, Alhaji Mustapha Umar-Mustapha II, represented by Alhaji Betara Aliyu, the Betara of Biu, commended the council’s efforts towards reducing out-of-school children.

“Any leader that prioritises education is a leader that understands the purpose of leadership; this is why I am commending the chairman,” Mr Umar-Mustapha II said.

The teacher, Mr Mohammed, said he had taught for 25 years and had never received an award.

He said he would use the money to buy a plot of land to build on and use the remaining money to support his family.