After escaping Boko Haram attacks, displaced and refugee children have been absorbed in school through European Union and UNICEF support.

Mokolo Subdivision in Mayo Tsanaga Division of the Far North Region in recent times received over 1,600 Internally Displaced Children, IDP pupils. This followed the shutting down of 10 primary schools on the border with Nigeria sequel to Boko Haram attacks. According to Inspector for Primary and Nursery Education for Mokolo Subdivision, Kambesse Manguelé Maliki, the new arrivals only came to compound an already difficult situation with over 57,000 pupils in 172 Government Schools in the subdivision.

The Lawan or local traditional chief for Mavoumai area, about 87 km from Maroua, the regional headquarters, says 300 fleeing children took refuge in his home before being resettled in other families in the community. Danagai Jegoue, 14, trekked 12 km from his native Mabass village before arriving in Baigai, in Mavoumai Lawanat. “I had to run away after Boko Haram militants attacked and torched our village. I was taken by the Lawan on arrival and now I am back in school, thanks to the support of the European Union and the UNICEF,” explains the 14-year-old boy. He is Class Five in Government Primary School, Baigai Group I.

Mbintchémé Djemegued, 14, has a similar story to recount. She was fortunate to have fled incessant Boko Haram incursions on her border village with her parents. The tall, lanky girl, a promising athlete, according to her teacher, is now in Class Six in Government School Baigai Group I. Today, the Baigai Government Schools Groups I and II have an overall enrolment of over 1,000 pupils. “Thanks to support from the European Union through UNICEF, I am now back in school. They offered us books, school bags, sports and leisure equipment, stationery, etc to facilitate learning,” says little Mbintchémé Djemegued.

At the sprawling Minawao Refugee Camp, some 69 km from Maroua, still in Mayo Tsanaga Division, there are over 15,000 pupils in Government Primary Schools. Hawa Gabriel, 14, fled her native Pourka village in Gwoza Local Area of Borno State in October 2015. “We had no option but to flee after Boko Haram fighters killed my younger brother, Jacob Gabriel, aged 11. We trekked from October 11-28, 2015, before arriving in the Cameroonian border village of Kerawa (in Mayo Sava Division),” recounts Hawa.

Fortunately for her family, they managed to reach safety in Cameroon with another younger brother and sister. “Thanks to assistance from the European Union and UNICEF, I am not only back in school in Class Four, but I have received a school bag, books, stationery and sports wear,” points out the pupil with a smile on her face.

On the other hand, Dauda Bamayi, 14, another Nigerian refugee pupil wants to put his traumatic past behind him. “I want to be a teacher,” he responds immediately without any second thought when asked what he wants to become in life. Also in the same class with Hawa Gabriel, the little boy is among thousands of refugee children who have received support from the European Union’s Children of Peace, ECHO Project through the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF.

According to Kum Ngha Blasius, Head Teacher of Government Bilingual Primary School, GBPS Group I, Minawao Refugee Camp, the 460.5 million FCFA funding for the ECHO Project has significantly improved learning among the children. “Initially, the pupils were writing on pieces of paper until they were provided exercise books by the EU. The offer of school bags also ensured that pupils no longer misplace their books,” concludes Kum Ngha.