EU-funded programme hands over rehabilitated primary school in Katsina

The Katsina State Government has inaugurated a rehabilitated primary school in Daga Community, Jibia Local Government Area, as part of efforts to promote peace, education and community resilience in areas affected by conflict.

The project was executed under the Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response and Resilience (CPCRR) Programme, an initiative funded by the European Union (EU).

Speaking at the handover ceremony on Tuesday at Daga Primary School, Jibia Local Government Area of the State, the representative of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, and Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House Katsina, Mukhtar Aliyu Saulawa, said the project was one of 26 projects initiated under the Conflict Mitigation and Community Reconstruction framework which began in 2025.

He noted that while 25 of the projects had already been commissioned, the Daga Primary School project was the final one.

Saulawa urged the people of Daga community to take full ownership of the facility and ensure its proper maintenance.

He also called on parents and guardians to prioritise the education of their children and wards, stressing that education goes beyond infrastructure and remains the foundation for societal development and long-term peace.

According to him, “the CPCRR intervention goes beyond classroom construction, as it also supports improved learning environments, skills acquisition for women and men, and assistance for victims of banditry”.

He expressed the appreciation of the Katsina State Government to the programme partners for their continued support to communities affected by insecurity.

He further disclosed that similar interventions have been implemented across eight local government areas in Katsina State under conflict prevention, crisis response and resilience efforts.

“These LGAs include Jibia, Safana, Danmusa, Kankara, Sabuwa, Faskari and Dandume, with projects ranging from provision of potable water and classrooms to veterinary services, solar power and other critical infrastructure”, he noted.

Saulawa explained that communities were actively involved in identifying priority areas for intervention, a strategy aimed at ensuring sustainability and local ownership.

He added that “this community-driven approach aligns with the policies of the Katsina State Government, which also engaged citizens across all wards during the preparation of the 2026 state budget”.

On his part, Philip Ikita, the Senior Programme Manager of Mercy Corps, highlighted the objectives of the CPCRR Programme, describing it as a continuation of earlier peacebuilding efforts in the region.

He said the programme seeks to address the root causes of conflict while strengthening social cohesion, resilience and socio-economic recovery in vulnerable communities.

Ikita explained that the CPCRR Programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in partnership with Mercy Corps and the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD). The programme operates in 48 communities across 10 local government areas in Katsina and Zamfara States.

He noted that in Daga community, Mercy Corps reconstructed and rehabilitated the Government Primary School through a Quick Impact Project (QIP). “The intervention involved the construction and rehabilitation of two blocks of four classrooms each, provision of desks and chairs, repairs to doors, windows and roofing, as well as improvements to sanitation, safety and minor electrical works”.

The gesture marked another milestone in efforts by Mercy Corps and partners to restore access to safe and functional learning spaces for children while fostering peace and resilience in communities affected by insecurity in northwest Nigeria.