An international non-governmental organisation, Plan International Nigeria, has supported 359 teachers in Borno State to secure professional teaching licences through the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), as part of efforts to strengthen education in conflict-affected communities.
The teachers, drawn from Kala-Balge, Damboa, and Mobbar Local Government Areas, successfully completed the TRCN Professional Qualifying Examination after participating in a structured capacity-building programme designed to improve teacher quality and classroom delivery.
Speaking during the induction ceremony in Maiduguri, the Director of Programme Quality and Influencing at Plan International Nigeria, Helen Idiong, said the intervention was developed in response to the educational challenges caused by years of insecurity and insurgency in the state.
According to her, many schools in affected communities continue to struggle with a shortage of qualified teachers, despite ongoing efforts to improve school enrolment and access to education.
She explained that the organisation partnered with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, the University of Maiduguri, and Unique Care and Support Foundation to provide training, mentorship, and examination support for teachers in underserved communities.
“For many years, conflict disrupted education across several communities in Borno State. While children are gradually returning to school, there is still a strong need for trained and professionally certified teachers who can support quality learning,” she said.
“We realised that strengthening education also means investing in teachers and helping them gain the right qualifications and professional support.”
She added that lecturers from the University of Maiduguri served as facilitators throughout the programme, helping participants prepare for the TRCN examinations.
Also speaking at the event, the Head of Programmes and Grants at Unique Care and Support Foundation, Jibrin Adamu, said the selected local government areas were prioritised because of the severe impact insecurity had on their education systems.
“These communities experienced years of disruption, displacement, and limited access to quality education. Supporting teachers in these areas is an important step toward rebuilding learning systems and improving outcomes for children,” he said.
Adamu noted that the project was funded by the European Union and implemented in collaboration with the Borno State Government and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Director of Certification, Licensing and Professional Operations at TRCN, Abimbola Ahmed, urged the newly licensed teachers to uphold professionalism and maintain ethical standards in their practice.
He warned against examination malpractice, abuse, and other forms of misconduct that could undermine the integrity of the teaching profession.
Some beneficiaries described the opportunity as life-changing and expressed gratitude to the organisation for investing in their professional growth.
One of the beneficiaries, Khadijat Muhammad, said the programme had improved her confidence and capacity as an educator.
“This opportunity has helped us grow professionally and become better teachers for the children in our communities,” she said.
Another participant, Abubakar Muhammad, pledged to apply the knowledge and skills gained from the training to improve learning experiences for his students.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to improve access to qualified teachers and strengthen education systems in vulnerable and conflict-affected communities across Nigeria.
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