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Zulum: A Beacon Of Hope To Borno’s Less Privileged People

Published

2 years ago

June 23, 2024

Ochuwa Ibrahim

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

News

After Boko Haram’s destructions, Governor Buni built modern markets across Yobe

Published

4 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

After Boko Haram’s destructions, Governor Buni built modern markets across Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe State is one of the states whose economic activities were destroyed and suffered from the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeastern part of Nigeria, and in its effort to expand the economic activities in the state and also to provide infrastructure facilities to the citizens of the state after recovery from the Boko Haram insurgency. His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, has built modern markets across the state in order to boost the economy and businesses in the state. The Commissioner of Home Affairs and Information, Hon. Abdullahi Bego, said there are two types of markets that His Excellency built. The first one is the ultramodern markets: one in Potiskum, one in Damaturu, the state capital, one in Geidam, one in Gashu’a, and another one in Nguru town. The major towns of Yobe State have one each of these markets. And also, we have the modern markets: one in Yunusari, one in Machina, one in Ngalda, and one in Buni Yadi, an ongoing project.

The commissioner of Housing and Rural Development, Architect Ahmed Buba, said His Excellency has constructed 9 modern markets across the state; we have 5 ultramodern markets completed with one ongoing, making 6; and also we have 4 modern markets, and Potiskum ultramodern markets have 500 shops, 192 stalls, and 12 warehouses large enough to accommodate about 12 trucks each, and also they have about 3 kilometers of roads and drainages as well as an administration block and praying ground. The markets are opening up economic activities in Yobe State, and with these markets the economy of Yobe is now building up, and then with the modern markets the businesses are fully on course.

Bego said, “Yobe State Woven and Polythene Company has been an existing company for a long time, and His Excellency Governor Mai Mala Buni is retrofitting and rehabilitating it and making it modern and new.” He starts with the structure, renovating and improving the structure and equipment that are already imported; we are just waiting for the arrival. When they come, they will be installed, and work will start. We produce a lot of grains in Yobe as an agrarian state, so we don’t need to buy all the sacks, all the woven sacks, and all the polythene bags that were used for those grains and other things like that. So this company has existed for a long time but is comatose and dormant. His Excellency has decided to breathe a new spirit into it, retrofitting it, reconstructing it, rebuilding it literally, and then providing equipment. As you can see, the number of people is very few in terms of job creation and in terms of economic activities that will be spanned around this area.

The Mega Motor Park: The former motor park, due to the expansion of that place. His Excellency directed the ministry of housing to identify a site far away from the city; from that roundabout we have a bypass, and henceforth motor vehicles do not pass through Damaturu. They can stop here, and from here other vehicles can transport them to the city center. The commissioner of Housing and Rural Development, Architect Ahmed Buba, said, “This is Damaturu Mega Motor Park, with a capacity of about 500 vehicles. We have a drivers’ lodge, which is going to accommodate up to 150 drivers at a time; we have a terminal building; we have a police station outpost; and we have the clinic, restaurant, and quite a few more.”

Engr. Muhammed Abba Hassan, General Coordinator for the project, said, “This project is awarded to Samsun Nigeria Ltd by the Yobe state government. We started this project about 6 months ago. At this level, we have reached almost over 80 percent, and we expect to complete this project within the stipulated contract agreement. Inshallah, by the end of March, this project will be fully completed.” This Damaturu Mega Motor Park is one of the mega motor parks of its type in Nigeria. We have almost every facility here. We have enough accommodation for travelers and accommodation also for drivers. We have a shop complex, we have a fire service, and we have a comprehensive health clinic that can accommodate not only the passengers but also the environment of this town. We can handle it as far as concern goes; we delivered this project within the stipulated period of time.

Township Stadium in Buni Yadi: This township stadium here in Buni Yadi is transforming sport, which will transform sport in Yobe State. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Alhaji Gidado Abubakar, said this project was awarded at the end of September last year to Damuli Investment Company Ltd. for the award of contract for the construction of a mini stadium in Buni Yadi. This is a post-insurgency project being awarded by the state government through the window of the Ministry of Youth, Sport, and Community Development. We signed a 6-month mandate giving the contractor the handing over of the project to the ministry for onward utilization, and about 65% of the project has been achieved. The capacity of the mini stadium is about 5,000 to 6,000 pupils; we have a multipurpose fit, we have badminton, basketball, and the other games, and we have about 78 different games in this project, and it is 250 meters by 200 meters, and 75 thousand square meters.

After Boko Haram’s destructions, Governor Buni built modern markets across Yobe

News

U.S. and Nigeria Forge Stronger Trade Ties Through New Investment Partnership

Published

4 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

U.S. and Nigeria Forge Stronger Trade Ties Through New Investment Partnership

By: Michael Mike

The United States and Nigeria have taken a significant step to deepen commercial relations with the U.S.-Nigeria Commercial and Investment Partnership (CIP), a five-year initiative aimed at boosting trade, investment, and private sector growth.

The partnership was highlighted at a ministerial meeting in Lagos co-chaired by U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Commercial Service Bradley McKinney and Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole. The meeting brought together government officials and private sector leaders to review proposed reforms from the CIP Working Groups on Agriculture, Digital Economy, and Infrastructure.

The Working Groups presented strategies intended to improve the business environment, ease trade barriers, and attract investment. McKinney described the proposals as practical measures that could strengthen bilateral trade and create new economic opportunities for both nations.

Oduwole emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to expanding non-oil exports and making local businesses more competitive in global markets. “We are focused on creating sustainable and inclusive opportunities for Nigerian companies to access U.S. markets and beyond,” she said, noting ongoing efforts to implement reforms that make Nigeria’s economy more predictable and investment-friendly.

Senior officials from both countries attended the session, including U.S. Mission Chargé d’Affaires Keith Heffern and Nigeria’s Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Nura Rimi.

The partnership is expected to facilitate continued consultations on trade and investment, encourage two-way investment flows, and support economic growth on both sides of the Atlantic.

In 2024, bilateral trade in goods and services between Nigeria and the United States reached nearly $13 billion. U.S. foreign direct investment in Nigeria also rose to $7.9 billion, reflecting a 25 percent increase from the previous year, making the U.S. one of Nigeria’s top foreign investors.

U.S. and Nigeria Forge Stronger Trade Ties Through New Investment Partnership

News

Six killed, others injured, abducted in bandit attack on Tsafe community

Published

4 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Six killed, others injured, abducted in bandit attack on Tsafe community

By: Zagazola Makama

At least six persons were killed and several others injured when armed bandits attacked Kanbiri village via Kwaren Ganuwa in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara on Thursday afternoon.

Residents said the assailants stormed the community at about 2:50 p.m., shooting sporadically and causing panic among villagers.

“They shot many people. Six were confirmed dead on the spot, while others sustained gunshot injuries,” a local source said.

The attackers were also reported to have abducted an unspecified number of residents and taken them to an unknown destination.

Troops and other responders have since moved into the area to evacuate the corpses for burial and to begin efforts to locate and rescue the abducted victims.

Kanbiri and surrounding communities in Tsafe LGA have experienced repeated attacks in recent months, as bandit groups continue to target rural settlements in Zamfara.

Six killed, others injured, abducted in bandit attack on Tsafe community