Survivor advocates, state officials, education experts, international and non-governmental organisations as well as the diplomatic community, have called for the Prioritisation of education as a form of reparation in conflict areas in Nigeria.
They stated this at an event organized by Global Survivors Fund (GSF) and the Neem Foundation.
At the forum, stakeholders emphasized education as a form of reparation for survivors and children affected by conflict-related sexual violence in Nigeria.
More than 15 years after Boko Haram’s brutal campaign against education in Nigeria began; children who suffered grave violations during the insurgency are reclaiming their right to learn.
In February 2024, Neem and GSF started collaborating on a six-year initiative in Maiduguri that delivers trauma-responsive education to children aged 8 to 14, most of whom were abducted, abused, witnessed violence, or were born as a result of sexual violence during Boko Haram’s insurgency.
This comprehensive education programme, set up by Neem in 2018, creates safe spaces for children to heal, regain confidence, and reconnect with a future that was violently interrupted. This is a bold, practical step towards justice and social reintegration.
“We are making schools where healing begins,” said the Neem Foundation Executive Director, Dr Fatima Akilu. “This is about helping children regain control of their lives, their dignity, and their place in society.”
Education as reparation requires tailored measures that address the unique needs of children affected by conflict-related sexual violence. By combining trauma-responsive methods, flexible learning with economic support, and engagement with caregivers and communities, it ensures that the education children receive is accessible, inclusive, and transformative.
At the heart of the Neem project in Borno is the Lafiya Sarari school, where nearly 80% of enrolled students have been affected by conflict-related sexual violence. Students learn on-the-go and move at their own pace through a curriculum grounded in values such as peace, respect, and integrity a deliberate counter to the hate that fuelled their trauma. The learning process is interwoven with mental health care, psychosocial support, and basic medical services. For children still carrying the physical and emotional scars of violence, this holistic approach provides a lifeline.