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Nigeria’s diversity not a burden but a gift that must be safeguarded – Marwa
Nigeria’s diversity not a burden but a gift that must be safeguarded – Marwa
By: Michael Mike
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) has urged Nigerians to always remember that the country’s diversity is not a burden but a gift and a trust that must be safeguarded by all.
Marwa gave the charge while delivering the keynote address at the public presentation of a book: Buni Boy, written by late legal luminary Niyi Ayoola-Daniels in Abuja on Saturday 29thNovember 2025.
According to him, “Today holds a special significance for me due to the profound and compelling nature of this gathering. What moves me most is not only the book itself but also the life of its author and what that life represents. It speaks to the unity and strength woven through our diversity as Nigerians. To many people, the author’s narrative may seem distant, almost unreal, as if drawn from another world. Yet those of us who grew up in the 1960s know it as lived truth.
“The experience captured in the narrative mirrors the country we once walked through with unguarded hearts.
“The story stirs my memories and reminds me of a time when life was plain in its blessings and people showed more kindness in their daily dealings.
“This evening, I am not here to retell the story, for it stands strong on its own. Instead, I will reflect on its core theme, to remind Nigerians of this era that our diversity is not a burden but a gift and a trust we must safeguard.
“I have long been an advocate of unity in diversity and of the strength that rises from it. Hence, today’s occasion provides me an opportunity to further amplify the message. The Nigeria of my youth understood its own diversity, even in the troubled days of the 1960s when the civil war raged through this country. I recall my teenage years at the Nigeria Military School, NMS Zaria, where the pupils came from diverse ethnic backgrounds.
“It was never a school for northern boys alone. No, not a school for Hausa, Fulani, Kanuri, Tiv or Idoma. It was a school for all ethnic groups in Nigeria. Whether you speak Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo, we regarded ourselves as kin. Our teachers reflected the same broad mix. For instance, from 1966 to 1970, the Commandant of the NMS was a Yoruba officer, Col. T. B. Ogundeko, of blessed memory. We didn’t see him as a Yoruba man. We saw a Nigerian, a man with whom we have a shared identity.
“Before attending NMS, however, I had my primary education across four cities: Zaria, Enugu, Abeokuta, and Lagos. This was the result of my father’s mobile life as a soldier. Living in different sociocultural settings taught me early that people of other tongues and traditions are still my own. That truth has stayed with me ever since.
“The Nigerian Army, where I served for over 30 years, is built on a foundation of unity, and the ideal of one Nigeria shapes its work. That experience only strengthened my conviction. As an officer, I served across the country and built bonds that cut through the artificial barriers created by our sociocultural differences. In the army, intermarriage and close fellowship pushed us to look past ethnic lines and stand together as one.
“On a personal note, my life has taught me that the diversity of this country enriches us. It sharpens our understanding of one another. It strengthens the fabric of our shared existence. It unites far more than it divides, whatever the voices of doubt may say today.
“In my private and professional life, I have always embraced the full breadth of Nigeria’s diversity. My friends come from every corner of the country. I have worked with people of every ethnicity. The people around me, even today, reflect the wide spectrum of our multiethnic nation. The chieftaincy titles I hold, more than 30 in number, show that same reach. Even my own family reflects our national mix.
“Wherever I stand in this country, whether among the Ogoni, or Bachama, among Igbo or Idoma, anywhere at all, I am at home.”
Marwa recalled that as Military Administrator of Lagos state, the Yoruba people showed him great love and supported his administration despite their hostility to the government at the federal level then. He said the support he received from Lagos encouraged him to conduct a free and fair election that brought his successor to office.
He said: “Even though the Head of State then Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar did not interfere in my conduct of the governorship election, the military hierarchy did. After seeing the then Senator Bola Tinubu’s strong campaign and popularity, the military hierarchy instructed me to prevent him from emerging governor because of his pro-democracy activism in NADECO against the military government then but I chose to conduct a free and fair election that produced the most popular candidate as governor of Lagos state. The rest today is history.”
Marwa said Nigeria may have its peculiar challenges because of how poorly its diversity has been managed over the years, “but these difficulties cannot justify any idea of tearing the nation apart”, adding that “our challenges should instead push us to repair the fault lines and pursue greater inclusion.”
Speaking on the book, Marwa commended the widow of the author, Mrs Leticia Ayoola-Daniels for keeping her late husband’s memory alive. “Barrister Niyi Ayoola-Daniels is no longer with us, but his legacy lives on. The Buni Yadi Foundation keeps his ideals alive. I must say that the real-life story told in the book resonates deeply with me. This is not only because I once served as the military governor of the old Borno, where Buni Yadi was then located, but also because I have met the family of the noble Alkali, the judge whose sense of duty anchors the book and shaped the author’s life. It is also because the transformation of an eighteen-year-old boy in the 1960s and the wisdom of a judge who held firmly to justice reflect the very heart of the Nigerian spirit.”
Nigeria’s diversity not a burden but a gift that must be safeguarded – Marwa
Gombe Govt restates commitment to MSMEs growth
The Gombe State Government, on Friday engaged stakeholders in the finance sector towards easing access to credit and ensuring the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.
Malam Muhammad Magaji, the state’s Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development stated this in Gombe while declaring open the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme, themed: “Guide to Access Credit”.
Magaji said that the meeting was aimed at creating an environment conducive for business growth by removing the bottlenecks around accessing finance.
He said that the administration of Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has prioritised the development of businesses and industries to drive economic prosperity for the state, create jobs and improve the wellbeing of residents.
Magaji who was represented by Mr Jalo Ibrahim, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said that the state is now more deliberate in supporting small business owners to grow.
According to him, Yahaya-led administration’s commitment to MSMEs growth is to ensure inclusive growth of the economy in view of the role of such small businesses to economic transformation.
“We are engaging the financial institutions and relevant stakeholders to see how we can remove the barriers affecting access to credit to SMEs in the state.
“This is part of the current administration’s commitment to strengthening access to loan facilities that would give life to small businesses and help more youths start up businesses.
“We are very committed as a government to see to it that we provide all the needed supports to make doing business in Gombe State easy.
“Government will inject more money into the system to serve as collateral for business owners and also serve as guarantor to those who are willing to access finance,” he said.
On his part, Alhaji Nasiru Aliyu the Commissioner for Trade, Industry, and Tourism,
Gombe State restated the state government’s commitment to industrialising the state and attracting investors.
Aliyu said that Yahaya’s administration had invested a lot to boost industrial growth and turn the state into the industrial and evonomic hub of North East.
Mr Kabiru Tsoho, the SABER focal person for Gombe State said that the SABER Programme is a World-Bank project aimed at easing businesses towards accelerating the growth of the economic sector.
Tsoho said the engagement would help remove impediments to accessing finance and encouraging business growth.
“This will help improve business environment and encourage investment which would provide more opportunities for jobs to be created and for economic empowerment of women and youths,” he said.
Mr Sanusi Abdullahi, Chairman, Traders Association of Nigeria, Gombe State chapter commended the initiative by the state government and World Bank to make doing business easy.
Abdullahi said with improved access to loans, there would be more youth employment and improvement in the standard of living of residents of the state.
Gombe Govt restates commitment to MSMEs growth
Troops arrest gunrunner, recover arms, ammunition in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 3 Division of the Nigerian Army under Operation Joint Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace (OP Enduring Peace), have arrested a suspected gunrunner and recovered arms and ammunition in Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
The operations, conducted on Thursday, were part of ongoing efforts to mop up illicit arms and ensure a peaceful yuletide season within the Joint Operations Area, military sources said.
In the early hours of the day, troops, in conjunction with operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), raided a suspected criminal hideout at Gwender Village in Bokkos Local Government Area, following intelligence reports.
Although the suspects reportedly fled before the arrival of the troops, a search of the hideout led to the recovery of one fabricated AK-47 rifle with a magazine, one fabricated pistol and several rounds of ammunition of different calibres.
In a related operation, troops working with a DSS Tactical Team mounted a snap checkpoint at Mairana in Mangu Local Government Area, based on credible intelligence.
During the operation, a Fulani youth was intercepted and arrested while in possession of two boxes of ammunition containing 1,400 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
The suspect and the recovered items are currently in custody for further investigation, while troops have intensified follow-up operations to apprehend other members of the suspected criminal syndicate.
The military reiterated its commitment to sustaining pressure on criminal elements to ensure peace and security across Plateau State and the wider Joint Operations Area.
Troops arrest gunrunner, recover arms, ammunition in Plateau
Zulum disburses N1bn, trains 1,050 youths on GSM repairs
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has launched an empowerment package worth N1,000,000,000 targeting thousands of young residents, mostly GSM repairers and technicians.
The initiative targets 1,050 youths who will be trained on phone repairs and maintenance; about 3,000 other apprentices will receive cash.
Each of them will receive a complete set of modern working tools, including an 852D hot air rework station, a separating machine Kc2025, a battery booster S2025 pro, an adjustable temperature soldering iron V900c, a digital multimeter DT9205Plus and a precision screw driver set 60 in 1, to enhance their own repair businesses.
In addition to the tools, all 1,050 GSM repair trainees will receive direct cash support to serve as seed capital for their ventures.
The disbursement comprises four categories: the first group, consisting of 26 beneficiaries each receiving N1 million; the second group, 189 beneficiaries each receiving N300,000; the third group, 835 beneficiaries each receiving N100,000; and the fourth category, 3,500 apprentices, each receiving N100,000 and different calibres of working tools. The training cost is N482 million.
Speaking during the launching ceremony, Zulum said: “It gives me immense pleasure and a deep sense of fulfilment to stand before you today on this historic occasion—the official launch of the disbursement of N1 billion empowerment scheme alongside the training of operators at the GSM Market here in Maiduguri.”
The governor also recalled several initiatives by his administration on investment in human capital development.
He said, “Only recently, this administration took a bold and visionary step by sponsoring two hundred youths to study aircraft piloting and aeronautic engineering at Isaac Balami University.
“This initiative is designed to place Borno State on the global aviation map and demonstrate that, despite our challenges, we are preparing our youths for world-class opportunities. The process is almost completed.
“So far so good, about 400 Borno state indigenes are pursuing PhDs and master’s degrees abroad. In addition, 100 of our youths are currently studying Medicine and related courses in China.”
The occasion was attended by the senator representing Borno Central, Barrister Kaka Shehu Lawan; members of the House of Representatives; the deputy speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Engr Abdullahi Askira; commissioners and senior government officials.
Zulum disburses N1bn, trains 1,050 youths on GSM repairs
Gombe Govt restates commitment to MSMEs growth
Troops arrest gunrunner, recover arms, ammunition in Plateau
Zulum disburses N1bn, trains 1,050 youths on GSM repairs
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