By Abu Faisal
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — The Rotary Club of Maiduguri, District 9127, has on Thursday Nov 20, 2025 launched a significant outreach campaign targeting the foundational years and advanced ages of learning at various schools around the metropolis and outskirts of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.
The launched this dual-pronged literacy campaign with the aim of delivering essential aid to both public primary school students and adult learners seeking a second chance at education.
As part of its Education and Literacy project for the 2025-2026 Rotary year, the club distributed essential learning materials to a student population exceeding 600 at Jajel Junior Secondary School, Njimtilo an initiative designed to bridge the resource gap in public education and foster a spirit of academic excellence among the youth of Borno State. Similar gesture was taken to the Literacy Center at the Agency for Mass Literacy, Borno State.
The delegation was led by Club President Rotarian Abdulkareem Haruna, who emphasized that the ideals of the intervention was beyond mere charity; it was a strategic investment in the state’s future.
“Your future rests on the way you pursue your education at a young age,” Haruna told the assembly of students, who gathered in the school hall to receive the donations. He urged the students to see themselves not just as pupils, but as emerging citizens whose eventual contributions to society would be defined by the dedication they apply to their studies today.
While the outreach ensured that every student at Jajel Public School went home with notebooks to support their daily coursework, the club introduced a merit-based tier to the donations to encourage competition and diligence.
The top 30 performing students – specifically those securing the first through fifth positions across various classes on their last term exams – were singled out for special recognition. These high achievers were awarded branded school bags stocked with notebooks, writing materials, and other comprehensive learning aids.
Rotarian Haruna took a moment to explain the mechanics behind the donation. He clarified that Rotary is a humanitarian service organization funded not by government coffers, but by the voluntary contributions of Rotarians worldwide. He noted that the global network is united by a desire to support communities and encourage scholarship, regardless of geography.
Haruna also expressed gratitude to the principal and management of Jajel Junior Secondary school for allowing the club access to the premises and facilitating the interaction with the students.
The event served as more than a distribution center; it doubled as a mentorship session. Several senior figures from the club delivered “pep talks” aimed at boosting morale and discipline among the student body.
Among the speakers were Rotarian Ibrahim Paulin, the Charter President of the club, and Club Vice President Rotarian Joseph Kadafur, both of whom underscored the value of persistence and discipline in education and child upbringing.
The school’s Principal, Aishatu Maigairi Ahmed, commended Rotary’s efforts, emphasizing that the initiative will not only facilitate learning but also inspire a passion for education in an environment where student motivation faces significant challenges.
“We lack the words to fully express our gratitude to Rotary,” she said. “This is exactly what we need to instill a desire for continuous education in our community. As you can see, the students are happy, and so are the teachers. While our Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has done significant work for education, the government cannot do it alone. Support from organizations like Rotary goes a long way in empowering our children to become the leaders of tomorrow.”
Expanding the mission beyond traditional schooling, the team proceeded to the Borno State Agency for Mass Literacy. There, the focus shifted to adult education, with the club presenting exercise notebooks to the students leadership and management for distribution among adult learners.
RC Maiduguri President, Haruna commended the adult students for their resilience in pursuing education later in life. He described their efforts as a strategic move to dismantle socioeconomic barriers.
“Education is a weapon to conquer poverty and illiteracy,” Haruna said. In presenting the materials, he asked the students to measure the value of the donation not by its physical size or monetary worth, but “by the intention and the spirit behind it.”
The visit to the adult education center struck a chord with the institution’s leadership. The Director of Literacy, representing the Agency’s Executive Secretary, expressed gratitude to Rotary for stepping into a facility he noted is “not mostly visited by people” or donor organizations.
The Student Union leader at the agency also emphasized these sentiments, thanking the club for the recognition and issuing a plea to the general public to follow Rotary’s example in supporting adult education initiatives.
The club is actively involved in projects concerning Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), environmental protection, and climate change mitigation. Additionally, they maintain a strong presence in healthcare, specifically targeting infant and maternal mortality and providing logistical and advocacy support for the global Polio immunization campaign.
During the event, Haruna reiterated that these projects are funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of Rotarians worldwide, united by a shared goal of fostering good citizenship and community resilience.
The Humanitarian Times 