Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has called for stronger collaboration and increased investment among the s...
Zulum made the call in Maiduguri during the fourth Project Board Meeting of the United Nations Offer to Support the Borno Model and the Steering Committee Meeting of the Peacebuilding Fund.
The high-level meeting was attended by representatives of the Federal Government, United Nations, development partners and donor agencies.
The governor said the decision to hold the meeting in Maiduguri underscored Borno’s strategic importance in national and international efforts toward peacebuilding, stabilisation, recovery and sustainable development in Nigeria’s North-East.
He commended the United Nations, donor countries and development partners for their financial and technical support, noting that their interventions had improved the lives of vulnerable people and communities affected by more than a decade of
insurgency.
According to him, the Peacebuilding Fund and the UN Offer have helped expand interventions beyond immediate humanitarian assistance to reconciliation, reintegration, livelihood support, social cohesion and institutional strengthening.
Zulum said the development of the Borno Model legal framework was a major outcome of the partnership between the state government and the United Nations, describing it as an important institutional foundation for peace, recovery, social cohesion and development.
He said Borno was at a critical transition point, moving from humanitarian response towards recovery, reconstruction, resilience and long-term development.
The governor identified rebuilding conflict-affected communities, restoring basic services, expanding education and skills development, creating jobs, supporting women and young people, strengthening local institutions, and enabling displaced and returning residents to rebuild their lives with dignity as key priorities.
He also called for greater investment in agriculture, small and medium-scale enterprises, vocational training, digital opportunities and value-chain development.
Zulum said the right investment in infrastructure, skills and enterprise development would enable Borno to move from being viewed primarily through the lens of crisis to becoming a centre of economic opportunity in the North-East.
The governor disclosed that the Borno State Government had committed more than 70 per cent of its budget over the past seven years to security, support for internally displaced persons and refugees, and the reconstruction of schools, houses, health facilities and markets, as well as livelihood opportunities for people affected by the insurgency.
He said the investments were aimed at restoring dignity, strengthening resilience and sustaining peace across the state.
Zulum stressed the need to build on existing achievements, scale up successful interventions and ensure that the people of Borno benefited fully from the transition from humanitarian assistance to medium- and long-term sustainable solutions.
He commended the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Mohammed Malick Fall; and the UNDP Resident Representative, Ms Elsie Attafuah, for their support for Borno’s recovery efforts.
The governor also acknowledged the contributions of Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Ministry of Justice and other stakeholders.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing the leadership, institutional support and coordination required to sustain partner-supported programmes beyond their project lifespan.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the challenges confronting the North-East should not be viewed solely as humanitarian crises but also as opportunities for long-term investment and sustainable development.
Bagudu stressed the need for coordinated financing and stronger collaboration among the Federal and state governments, the United Nations and development partners to achieve sustainable outcomes.
He commended Governor Zulum for providing trusted leadership and coordinating the state’s response to the complex challenges confronting its people.
The minister also praised the United Nations, development partners and donor agencies for their continued support to victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Mohammed Malick Fall, and the UNDP Resident.
Representative, Ms Elsie Attafuah, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Borno’s recovery efforts and commended Governor Zulum’s leadership.
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