Connect with us

News

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

Published

on

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Born without a silver spoon and struggled through hard work, perseverance and unwavering desire to succeed, Borno State Governor, Prof Babagana Zulum has since become a household name, especially amongst the less privileged people 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 a rare display of humility amongst Nigeria’s political elites

Since he assumed office in 2019, Prof Zulum has never failed to consistently associate with the less privileged, his former constituency where he was schooled in the difficult economic hardship bedevilling many Nigerian less privileged people.

Advertisement

Driven by compassion and his genuine concern to assist the common people, Prof Zulum had on different occasions while on a visit to the hinterland of the state, ordered the immediate halting of his motorcade just to assist locals walking long distances by giving them a ride on his convoy and also give them cash support.

Zulum passion to liberate his people from the shackles of poverty and education backwardness has led to a 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 budget, the Ministry of Education was allocated the sum of N39 billion to carry out its activities- this effort, amongst others, has removed over a million out-of-school children off the streets of Borno and returned them to the classrooms where their future are being positively moulded 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 than 800. We’re still working assiduously to bring down the number,” Commissioner of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engineer Lawan Abba Wakilbe said

Advertisement

No doubt, the more than a decade-long insurgency in Borno State had led many children and their parents to flee troubled 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 the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID ) which forms part of 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 indigenes of Borno State to think outside the box and collaborate to use education as tool for liberating the people of the state.

Zulum who was full of emotion, apparently on a quick trip down his memory lane, revealed how he battled through plethoras of obstacles in his unquenchable quest to gain a quality education that has since transformed his life to become a professor of soil and water engineering and currently serving his second term as governor of Borno state.

He said: “Coming from my background, I know how I suffered when we did not have competent teachers to teach us in our primary and secondary schools. 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.”

Advertisement

It was therefore not surprising when Governor Zulum recently released the sum of N4.8 billion as a 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 foreign and local postgraduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ( STEM)

In his usual touch of humanity and compassion towards the less privileged irrespective of ethnicity, tribe or religion governor Zulum during an early morning visit to a school in Maiduguri, the state capital had gifted a woman from the Southeast part of the country- a teacher in the school with the sum of N100,000 cash for always showing up early to her duty post. This announced the governor as a rewarder of not only the less privileged without demarcation of ethnic and religious lines but also a staunch believer in hard work and dedicated service.

Also, recently, during a visit to launch grains given to the state by the Federal Government, Prof Zulum, shortly after the occasion went towards the direction of the local guard on duty at the premises and immediately ordered that the sum of N500,000 be given to him – an amount that is more than his 12-month salary.

Advertisement

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, he could not hide his feelings but continued to shout the praises of God and that of the governor, stating that the gift would 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, had praises for Zulum who had established the food support to ameliorate economic hardship being experienced by many vulnerable families across the state, including the likes of Cecilia whose husband, a commercial taxi driver was gruesomely murdered by suspected Boko Haram terrorists over ten years ago.

Cecilia since the demise of her husband, had continued to feed from hand to mouth with her six children. Though the blood of her husband was shed in Borno the allure of the state added to the fact that she had no one ready to lessen her burden from elsewhere had kept her in Borno State. She said that Governor Zulum is the first to have reached out to her with any form of assistance- through the food support, noting that “this will assist me and my six children immensely.”

Prof Zulum had ordered that 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 faraway Osun State, a devoted Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) member as well as other beneficiaries who are not indigenes of the state.

Advertisement

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 of 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 distributions in the state that: “We have never distinguished 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 across 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 the N2 billion intervention by President Bola Tinubu led the Federal government to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal Prof. Zulum announced raising the number of households being targeted for palliatives from 300,000 to 400,000 households.

Advertisement

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 who recently benefited from the food support scheme established by the governor.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Kwara govt revokes signage, billboard licenses

Published

on

By

The Kwara State Government has announced the immediate revocation of all signage and billboard licences issued in 2024 with enforcement actions set to begin next week.

The government also warned that identification and removal of unauthorised billboards would commence shortly.

The announcement was made in a statement released on Sunday by the Chairman of the Kwara State Task Force Committee on Illegal Billboards and Signages, Bolanle Olukoju.

Olukoju, who is also Commissioner for Communications, explained that the revocation was in line with a previous notification suspending all billboard licences in the state.

Advertisement

He said the move aimed to facilitate the removal of unauthorised and improperly erected billboards, posters, and light pole banners throughout Ilorin and other urban centers.

“This initiative aligns with the Urban Renewal Programme of the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration, which seeks to transform Kwara into a modern and visually appealing state,” he said.

The government also confirmed that no new registrations or renewals of signage and billboard licences would be processed until further notice.

The temporary measure, the statement added, will allow the state to finalise a new regulatory framework for outdoor advertising.

Advertisement

The statement further emphasised that identification of non-compliant billboards is already underway, and owners of unregistered billboards are urged to remove them immediately.

Continue Reading

News

FG outlines requirements for civil servants wishing to change their name, next of kin

Published

on

By

The Federal Government has unveiled requirements for civil servants seeking to migrate their salaries, change their names and their next-of-kin among others.

This was revealed in a memo by the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation dated March 12,2025 and addressed to all Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The memo said the government had observed that civil servants effecting the changes on their names and next-of-kins do not submit the necessary documents needed to effect such changes, hence the need for the memo.

“Further to the Circular Ref. HCSF/PS/CMO/IPPIS/I/VOL.I/508 dated 1st November, 2022 on the above subject, the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation has observed that some Ministries, Departments and Agencies do not attach the required documents which would facilitate granting approvals for migration of saiary, change/correction of names, gender and next-of-kin within the shortest possible time.

Advertisement

“MDAs should therefore, note and be guided by the following Standard Operating Procedures for requests on changes/corrections on HR records of employees on the IPPIS Platform:

With the implementation of the Human Resource component of the IPPIS in the Federal Public Service, it has become necessary to take note and be guided by the above requirements.

“Kindly note that requests that are forwarded to the Office of the Head of the Civil service of the Federation without specific documents will not be processed for approval. Please bring the content of this Circular to all concerned for strict compliance,” the memo read.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Atiku supports Lagos corps member facing threats due to viral video

Published

on

By

Ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed support for a Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps member, Ushie Uguamaye, also known as Raye, who claimed to have received threats after her viral video criticising President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement shared on X on Sunday, Atiku praised Raye’s courage, describing her as a symbol of a new generation of politically engaged women committed to advocacy and democratic participation.

“Raye embodies the spirit of a new generation of women who champion the ideals of popular participation and unwavering advocacy in the political sphere.

“I deeply admire her boldness and wisdom—her fearless resolve to speak truth to power, undeterred by the weight of opposition,” Atiku wrote.

Advertisement

The former presidential candidate likened Raye to historic female activists such as Gambo Sawaba, Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti, and Margaret Ekpo, who played pivotal roles in Nigeria’s political landscape.

Atiku called for support rather than hostility towards Raye.

“Rather than being met with hostility, Raye deserves encouragement and support. She is a shining emblem of the Nigerian youth—a testament to the long-held promise that the leaders of tomorrow are already among us, ready to shape a better future,” Atiku said.

Raye, a corps member serving in Lagos, recently made headlines after a video she posted criticising government policies went viral.

Advertisement

She later claimed to have faced threats, reportedly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to take down the video.

In the video posted on her TikTok account #talktoraye on Saturday, Raye voiced frustration over Nigeria’s deteriorating economic situation, lamenting that hard work no longer guarantees financial stability.

She criticised Tinubu’s leadership, calling him a “terrible leader,” and questioned the government’s commitment to easing citizens’ hardships.

Authorities have yet to comment on her allegations.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Naija Blitz News