Borno State Government is set to award scholarship to 500 orphans of the Civilian JTF, hunters and vigilantes who died during battles with Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.

Widows of the late fighting volunteers would also be empowered by the state government.

The initiative titled “Borno Heroes Support Programme” will be launched in January 2022 by Governor Babagana Zulum.

The initiative will identify primary and secondary school-aged orphans of volunteers in the CJTF, hunters and volunteers who died during battles.

The scholarship will afford the orphans opportunities to attend Federal Government Colleges and international schools.

Governor Zulum announced this during his 2022 budget address at the Borno State House of Assembly on Tuesday in Maiduguri.

“We plan to launch BORNO HEROES’ SUPPORT PROGRAMME. This programme involves the setting up of a government team that will identify primary and secondary school-aged orphans of volunteers in the CJTF, hunters and volunteers who died during battles.

“Government will give these orphans scholarships to Federal Government Colleges and international schools. The programme is to be in phases with a pilot phase of 500 orphans,” Zulum disclosed.

“Many of these Civilian JTF fighters, hunters and vigilantes have lost their lives fighting for Borno’s peace. Insha’Allah, we plan to reward their priceless sacrifices by educating the children they left behind, and by supporting their widows through a programme we plan to launch in January, Insha’Allah,” the governor said.

Zulum explained that “another component of the BORNO HEROES’ SUPPORT PROGRAMME is needs assessment of widows left behind by the deceased volunteers.”

He noted that “government will allocate required support to these widows for sustainable livelihoods.”