Babagana Umara Zulum, the Governor of Borno State, spoke at the 10th Annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture and Merit Award.
The event took place at the Government House in Maiduguri, with notable attendees such as Vice President Kashim Shettima, Governors Mohammed Inuwa Yahya and Mohammed Bago, Senate President (represented by Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan), and Shehu of Borno Abubakar Umar Garbai Elkanemi.
Zulum addressed the theme, ‘Creating Pathways for Peace: Tackling Banditry and Insurgency through Good Governance for Sustainable Development.’ He emphasized the significance of good governance in addressing challenges, particularly those arising from the Boko Haram crisis.
The Governor outlined five key steps to tackle insecurity: infrastructural development, educational reform, healthcare enhancement, empowerment and job creation, and security collaboration.
Zulum highlighted his administration’s combined kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to address the root causes of insurgency.
In terms of infrastructure, the focus has been on rebuilding and reconstructing critical facilities, including roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals damaged during the Boko Haram insurgency.
Education received attention through the establishment of new schools, teacher recruitment, provision of learning materials, and scholarships to deter radicalization.
The improvement of healthcare delivery was underscored, with comprehensive reforms such as renovating and equipping health facilities, recruiting medical personnel, and ensuring the provision of essential drugs.
To address unemployment and discourage criminal activities, various empowerment programs were implemented, including skills acquisition training, entrepreneurship support, and youth employment schemes.
Governor Zulum emphasized active collaboration with security agencies over the past five years, providing support and resources to strengthen their capacity in combating insurgency. The goal is to create a conducive environment through effective governance for lasting peace and sustainable development.
The event also featured Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, urging collective efforts to address the rise of banditry and insecurity.
The guest speaker, Prof Tijjani Muhammed Bande, Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, presented a paper on uprooting banditry and insurgency through good governance.
Dignitaries from across the 19 states of the north attended the event, including Deputy Governor of Borno Umar Usman Kadafur, Deputy Governor of Bauchi Mohammed Auwal Jatau, Senator Muhammad Ali Ndume, Engr Bukar Talba, Speaker Borno State House of Assembly Abdulkarim Lawan, and various emirs.
