From Olukayode Idowu, Maiduguri
Borno State Government has unveiled a-25 year Development Plan aimed at rebuilding from the devastating destruction of Boko Haram and propel the troubled state into modernity.
The State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum on Saturday while unveiling the strategic plan, noted that it has medium and long implementation phases, through which Borno targets to become world class after fully recovering from impacts of more than $6 billion worth of destructions caused by Boko Haram.
He said all activities of government will henceforth be executed according to the development plan.
The plan is anchored on five critical pillars of Human Capital Development, Leadership in Agriculture, Healthy Citizenry, Sustainable Environment, and Regional Trade Hub for Commerce that will provide jobs and prosperity to the citizens.
Zulum, a University professor, before coming out with the Development Plan, had directed a team, led by his Adviser on Sustainable Development, Partnerships and Humanitarian Responses, Dr. Mairo Mandara, to interact with all stakeholders including the grassroots, Ministries and Agencies of Government to collate views on immediate, medium, and long term needs of communities in all the 27 Local Government Areas of Borno State, as well as how the State can speed up its recovery from destructions caused by Boko Haram, and explore its full potentials to become world class in years to come.
The team, which had subsequently used an inclusive and participatory approach that included a consultative workshop to define the objectives and priorities, and later come up with a strategic development plan.
Mandara, in her remarks during the launching of the Development Plan, gave an overview of the plan with the slogan: ‘our Borno, our Success’, said it was a document preceded by thorough planning and analysis, with a vision to ensure that in the next ten years, that is by 2030, Borno transforms the insurgency ravaged society into a peaceful, stable and self-reliant society with over 70% productive population, while by 2045, the State hopes to deliver a prosperous society that is a leading regional agri-business and commercial hub that connects and supplies the markets of Central Africa and Northern Africa, reclaiming the glory of Old Borno Empire as the stabilizing power in tropical Africa.
The formal launch of the Development Plan was done by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Shamsuna-Ahmed.
The occasion had in attendance the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami, former Governors of Borno State, Kashim Shettima and Ali Sheriff, serving and former National Assembly members, traditional rulers led by the Shehu of Borno, representatives from the international community, members of Borno Assembly and the Executive, party leaders and diverse stakeholders, some of whom joined through the webinar.
Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and NNPC’s GMD Mele Kyari were among high profile persons who joined via a zoom link that was well publicized ahead of the event that held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Government House in Maiduguri,
Speakers at the launch of the plan, amongst them Ministers of Communication – Pantami, Finance – Zainab, and former Governor Kashim Shettima, took turns to pay glowing tribute to Governor Zulum, recognizing his bold vision for Borno. Shettima asked participants to rise and give Zulum a standing ovation, which was happily done.
Secretary to Borno Government, Usman Jidda Shuwa, and Chief of Staff, Prof. Isa Hussaini Marte, in their separate remarks to welcome, and thank guests, both affirmed the commitment of stakeholders at the executive level, to actualizing Zulum’s lofty goals for Borno. Highpoint of the occasion was the unveiling and display of copies of the development plan by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, who represented Minister Zainab in Maiduguri, while the Minister joined via zoom.