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Zulum: A Beacon Of Hope To Borno’s Less Privileged People
Zulum: A Beacon Of Hope To Borno’s Less Privileged People
By Gbenga Akingbule
Born without a silver spoon and struggled through hardwork, perseverance and unwavering desire to succeed, Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum has since become a household name especially amongst the less privileged persons in the state .
Prof. Zulum is always quick to share stories about his humble beginning amongst the high and mighty, a gesture observers view as rare display of humility amongst Nigeria’s political elite
Upon assumption of office in 2019 , Prof Zulum has consistently associated himself with the less privileged,- his former constituency where he got first hand experience of the difficult economic hardship bedeveling many Nigerian less privileged people.
Driven by compassion and his gennue concern to assist the common people, Prof Zulum had on different occasion while on visit to the hinterland, ordered for the immediate halting of his motorcade just to assist locals walking long distance by giving them a ride on his convoy and also give them cash support.
Pfrof Zulum passion to liberate his people from the shackles of poverty and education backwardness has led to rise in budgetary provisions and fund releases for the education sector and key ministries that are aimed at empowering the common people.
For the 2024 buget, the Ministry of Education was allocated the sum of N39 billion to carry out its activities- this effort , amongst others , has removed over one million out- of – school children off the streets of Borno and returned them to the classrooms where their future are being positively shaped to become responsible and productive members of the society.
” Out of 1.8 million out -of- school children in 2021, we have taken measures to reduce the number to less that 800. We’re still working assiduously bring down the number ” Commissioner of Education, Science , Technology and Innovation, Engineer Lawan Abba Wakilbe said
No doubt, the more than a decade long insurgency in Borno State had led many children and their parents to flee trouble areas, thereby obstructing their education where massive destruction to education facilities across the state was evident .
At a recent function during a public lecture held at University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID ) which form part activities to mark the exit of the former Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof . Aliyu Shugaba after completing his 5 year tenure, Prof Zulum didn’t mince words when he charged the sea of erudite scholars present at the occasion, majority of whom are indigens of Borno State to think outside the box and collaborate to use education as tool for liberating the people of the state .
Zulum was quick to trip down memory lane and revealed how he battled through pletoral of obstacles in his unquenchable quest to gain quality education that has since transformed his life to become a professor of Soil and Water Engineer and currently serving his second term as governor of Borno state.
” coming from my background, I know how I suffered , where we do not have competent teachers to teach us in our primary and secondary school. I never thought I would be a professor, because both of my parents were not educated, nobody ever told me to do my assignment while in primary school, I was on my own.” Zulun said .
It was therefore not surprising when Governor Zulum recently released the sum of N4.8 Billion as scholarship award to 524 postgraduate students from the state , including orphans and less privileged persons.
The scholarship award according to the governor is meant for foriegn and local postgraduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ( STEM)
In his usual humanitarian and compassion towards the the less privileged irrespective of ethnicity, tribe or religion governor Zulum during an early morning visit to a school in Maiduguri, the state capital gifted a woman form the South East part of the country- a teacher in the school with the sum of N100, 000 cash for always showing up eally to her duty post .
Also , recently, during a visit to launch grains given to the state by Federal Government , Prof Zulum, shortly after the occasion went towards the direction of the local guard guarding the premises and immediately ordered that the sum of N500 000 be given to him – an amount that is more that his 12 month salary.
The 80 year Chadian local guard who had lived in Nigeria for over four decades and has over 20 Children was stunned by the governor’s gesture and said the money will go a long way in ameliorating his financial challenges.
Furthermore, 63 year old Cecelia Joseph, a widow and mother of six children who was part of the one hundred thousand households that benefited from massive food support scheme carried out by the Borno State Governor.
The aim of the food support according to Goverenor Zulum is to ameliorate economic hardship being experienced by many vulnerable families across state including the likes of Cecilia whose husband, a commercial taxi driver was gruesomely murdered by suspected Boko Haram Terrorists over ten years ago.
Since the demise of her husband, Cecilia who had continue to feed from hand to mouth with her six children revealed that Governor Zulum is the first to have reached out to her with any form of assistance- the food support , she said ” will assist me and my six children immensely ”
Prof Zulum had ordered that the food support should be given to all vulnerable residents irrespective of tribe , religion and political affiliations hence paving the way for Cecilia who hails from far away Osun State, a devoted Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) member as well as other beneficiaries who are not indigens of the state .
” I’m so grateful to Governor Zulum for wiping away my tears with this food support. But I would appreciate more support from the governor and other well meaning citizens for the education on my children. ” Cecelia who currently lives in a rented accommodation on the outskirts of Maiduguri , the state capital said .
Governor Zulum had revealed during one of the many food distribution in the state that ” We have never distinguish between Christians and Muslims in our food distribution. What we’re doing is not partisan either , it’s not based on ethnicity or religion ; we advised the community to select one hundred thousand most valuable and bottom poor and this will go a long way in ameliorating the suffering of the masses ”
While warehouses were being looted acros the country during the # EndSARS protests, residents of Borno state were full of gratitude to Governor Zulum for always coming to their aid with his unprecedented distribution of food , cash and clothing to assist the less privileged.
Following the release of N2 Billion intervention by the President Bola Tinubu led Federal governmen to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal Prof. Zulum had announced raising the number of households being targeted for palliatives from 300,000 to 400,000 households.
Each household according to the Governor, will be made up of six family members and multiplied by 400,000 which, by implication, moves Zulum’s new target to two million and four hundred thousand individuals.
“Governor Zulum has continued to stand in the gap for many of the less privileged people in Borno state ” Umar Ali, one of those that recently benefited from the food support scheme established by the governor.
Zulum: A Beacon Of Hope To Borno’s Less Privileged People
Police storms bandits enclave after bandits attack, rescue 25 abducted women in Zamfara
By: Zagazola Makama
The Zamfara Police Command has rescued 25 abducted persons, including 10 women and 15 children, following a coordinated response to a bandit attack on Kuraje village in Damba area of Gusau Local Government Area.
A source told Zagazola Makama on Sunday that the incident occurred on Nov. 21 at about 9:45 p.m., when armed bandits in large numbers invaded the community, shooting sporadically before abducting the victims.
According to the source, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Damba Division, working alongside operatives from the Department of Operations Gusau and Community Protection Guards (CPG), immediately mobilised to the scene after receiving the distress report.
“The joint police teams engaged the bandits in a gun battle and successfully rescued all the abducted women and children,” the source said.
He added that the rescued victims were taken to Sabongari Damba for safety and were expected to be reunited with their families on Sunday morning.
The police assured that efforts were ongoing to track fleeing bandits and enhance security around vulnerable communities in the area.
Further developments are expected as operations continue.
Police storms bandits enclave after bandits attack, rescue 25 abducted women in Zamfara
Meth, cocaine consignments in machine cylinders, auto parts intercepted at Lagos airport
By: Michael Mike
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have dismantled no fewer than six syndicates leading to the seizure of tons of assorted illicit drugs and the arrest of nine kingpins in series of intelligence-led interdiction operations, the spokesman of the anti-narcotics agency, Femi Babafemi said on Sunday.
Babafemi, in a statement, said in one of such operations, NDLEA officers last Tuesday arrested two members of a drug trafficking organisation in Onitsha, Anambra state when they showed up to take delivery of 5.4 kilogrammes of methamphetamine; 10.7 kilogrammes of Loud, a strong strain of cannabis; 16 grammes of cocaine; 200 grammes of phenacetin; 200 grammes of methcathinone and 100 grammes of caffeine concealed in pressure machine cylinders imported from South Africa.
He disclosed that the first to show up at a logistics company in Onitsha for the collection of the consignments was 30-year-old electrical appliances dealer Ebulue Uzochukwu who was promptly arrested while shortly after, another member of the syndicate 51-year-old South Africa returnee Christopher Ndibuisi showed up and was equally arrested.
He said the consignments had arrived the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos with airway bill number 118-12882973 arriving from South Africa on a Tag-Angola flight on 13th November 2025 and was immediately seized based on credible intelligence, adding that a follow up sting operation was thereafter organized in Onitsha, Anambra state where the recipients: Uzochukwu and Ndibuisi were arrested.
In another operation at the Lagos airport, NDLEA operatives last Thursday intercepted a brake servo automobile part used to conceal 48 pellets and a block of cocaine
with a gross weight of 2.3 kilogrammes packed among other auto parts going to Gabon.
Babafemi said following the arrest of a freight agent Ameh Solomon who presented the consignment for export, a follow up at ASMPDA market, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo Lagos led to the arrest of an auto parts dealer Nwafor Tochukwu.
In Kogi state, NDLEA operatives last Monday intercepted a trailer conveying 4,700 kilogrammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis at Kabba. Three suspects: Solomon Dauda, Friday Garba and Daniel Danladi accompanying the consignment were arrested while a follow up operation in Jos, Plateau state last Friday led to the arrest of the alleged kingpin who owns the trailer and the illicit drug consignment, Marcus Mangu.
Babafemi said a couple: 55-year-old Onun Okoi Okpotum and his wife 52-year-old Itam Okoi Okpotum were last Wednesday arrested at their warehouse located at 13 Park road, Ugep Yakur local government area, Cross River state where 362 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 4,706 kilogrammes were recovered.
In Edo state, two women; Praise Nwogu, 19, and Ebong Oghosa, 25, who specialize in the production and online sale of brownies laced with illicit drugs were on Saturday arrested in Benin city. At the point of their arrest, Praise Nwogu, was said to have been found with 12 plates and a cup of drug-laced brownies laced while Ebong Oghosa, was nabbed with 76 grammes of skunk, 1.5 grammes of Colorado and drug-laced brownies.
A raid at Ososo village, Akoko Edo local government area last Tuesday led to the arrest of 35-year-old Shedrack Aminu, who was found with 59 kilogrammes skunk.
Operatives on patrol along Enugu/Onitsha road, Enugu State last Wednesday intercepted a suspect Chinoso Monday, 24, conveying 10.1 kilogrammes skunk; 105,600 pills of tramadol 250mg, 225mg and 100mg as well as 700 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 3000 rounds of live ammunition.
In Kebbi state, 13,155 bottles of codeine-based syrup were evacuated from a warehouse located at Dole-Kaina, Dandi local government area, while a 23-year-old suspect Umar Adamu was arrested with 12,548 pills of opioids concealed in paracetamol containers heading to a Boko Haram enclave in Mainok area of Borno state last Friday.
Two suspects: Anthony Mercy, 40, and Sunday Augustine, 39, were last Monday
arrested with 430.5 kilogrammes by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Abaji- Abuja expressway in the FCT, while Samson Dafe, 47, was arrested at Dikko junction, Kaduna road, Tafa local government area, Niger state last Tuesday conveying 85,100 pills of opioids and 5,456 bottles of codeine syrup in his Sharon vehicle marked ABJ 114 BV.
Babafemi said the premises of a suspect Sani Mohammed in Anguwan Makera Kuta, Shiroro local government area last Thursday raided with 437 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 471.8 kilogrammes recovered.
In Lagos, a suspect Usman Adegoke was arrested in connection with the seizure of
139 pouches of Canadian Loud weighing 71 kilogrammes at an apartment in Lekki while a lady Oluchi Celestine was last Tuesday nabbed in Lekki with 2.6 kilogrammes Colorado packaged in branded containers and some concealed in flight boarding cards.
The spokesman said acting on credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives supported by some military personnel last Monday raided the notorious Peti illicit drug enclave, Lagos Island where 385 kilogrammes of skunk, Loud and Colorado were recovered and two suspects arrested.
No less than 163,200 capsules of tramadol 225mg were also recovered in another operation at a motor park in Maza Maza area of Lagos.
Babafemi said with the same vigour, commands and formations of the agency across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization activities to schools, worship centres, work places and communities among others in the past week.
Justifying the current heavy crackdown on drug trafficking syndicates, the Chairman/CEO of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa said the coming festive season is usually a period often exploited by criminal elements, hence the agency has decided to launch a relentless offensive on drug trafficking cartels across the nation.
He said. “The coming weeks present both an opportunity and a challenge. Drug cartels may attempt to increase their illegal activities, seeking to profit during the busy holiday period. We must not, and we will not, let down our guard.”
Meth, cocaine consignments in machine cylinders, auto parts intercepted at Lagos airport
Europe Leads Mobilization of €15.5 billion Investment in Clean Energy for Africa
By: Michael Mike
An investment of €15.5 billion has been secured to power a clean future across Africa, as well as additional commitments in clean energy generation and access for households to electricity as a result of a
year-long campaign to mobilise investments in renewable energy on the African continent, led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The European Union led the pledging effort, with more than €15.1 billion. This includes a pledge made by President von der Leyen, on behalf of Team Europe, of over €10 billion, as well as significant additional bilateral contributions by European financial institutions, Member States and their Development Finance Institutions, and estimated private investment mobilised.
The campaign, organised in collaboration with the international advocacy organisation Global Citizen and with the policy support of the International Energy Agency, according to a statement on Sunday by EU, was aimed at driving public and private investment in supporting the clean energy transition in Africa, expand access to electricity – and promote Africa’s sustainable economic growth and decarbonised industrialisation.
The statement added that this also represents a step up to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean and sustainable energy globally.
President von der Leyen said: “Today, the world has stepped up for Africa. With €15.5 billion, we are turbocharging Africa’s clean-energy transition. Millions more people could gain access to electricity; real, life-changing power for families, for businesses, for entire communities. This investment is a surge of opportunity: thriving markets, new jobs, and reliable, clean energy that meets the needs of partners across the globe President Ramaphosa and I both look forward to a clean-energy future for the continent. A future led by Africa, with strong support from its friend and partner, Europe.”
The Team Europe package announced by President von der Leyen includes new Global Gateway projects co-financed with contributions from Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain as well as the European Investment Bank (€2.1 billion) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (€740 million). In addition, Italy (€2.4 billion), Germany (over €2 billion), the Netherlands including FMO (€250 million), Portugal (€113 million), Denmark (€81 million), Sweden (€44 million), Austria (€5 million), Ireland (€5 million) made bilateral contributions, worth over €5 billion, while the EBRD announced a separate bilateral investment of over €600 million.
In the context of the campaign, the African Development Bank pledged to allocate at least 20% of the African Development Fund’s 17th replenishment to renewable energy. Norway pledged approximately €53 million through their contribution to the African Development Fund over 2026-2028.
The campaign also secured additional commitments that will generate 26.8 GW generated renewable energy and bring renewable electricity to 17.5 million households a that currently live without reliable access.
From the €10 billion pledged by President von der Leyen on behalf of Team Europe, €3.1 billion were announced previously on the occasion of the EU-South Africa summit in March 2025, the Mattei Plan for Africa and Global Gateway event in June 2025, the Africa Climate Summit and the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025 and the Global Gateway Forum in October 2025, while €7 billion were announced by the President during the final pledging event in Johannesburg on 21 November.
A list of projects included in the announcement is available online, and in
addition to the campaign pledges, a number of Team Europe actors have indicated their intention to increase investments in renewable energy by 2030. This amounts to another €4 billion.
The ‘Scaling up Renewables in Africa’ campaign was launched in November 2024 in Rio de Janeiro by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Its aim was to drive new commitments on policy and finance from governments, financial institutions, the private sector and philanthropists. The campaign also created momentum more broadly towards the ambitious targets of tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency worldwide, set at COP28.
Currently, 600 million people still lack access to electricity in Africa. With Africa’s population set to double by 2050, providing affordable, sustainable energy is crucial for both the continent’s development and global climate goals. Africa holds 60% of the world’s best solar resources, offering a significant opportunity for renewable energy.
Despite this, the continent attracts only 2% of global energy investment, and faces challenges like high capital costs, limited investment, geographic barriers, and supply chain constraints, but through the Global Gateway investment strategy, and in particular through the Africa-Europe Green Energy Initiative (AEGEI), the European Union is working with African partners to seize this opportunity. The EU is delivering major investments in renewable energy generation, transmission and cross-border electricity trade, while building long-term, reliable partnerships to support Africa’s clean energy future.
Europe Leads Mobilization of €15.5 billion Investment in Clean Energy for Africa
Police storms bandits enclave after bandits attack, rescue 25 abducted women in Zamfara
Meth, cocaine consignments in machine cylinders, auto parts intercepted at Lagos airport
Europe Leads Mobilization of €15.5 billion Investment in Clean Energy for Africa
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