By:Babagana Bukar Wakil, Maiduguri
In a powerful demonstration of visionary governance, Borno State, under the steadfast leadership of His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has boldly launched a nationally significant initiative that transforms its resilient youth from survivors into the chief architects of the state’s economic future.
Today in Maiduguri, Governor Zulum inaugurated the landmark Borno Youth Empowerment and Innovation Scheme, a strategic one billion naira investment designed not just as a programme, but as the cornerstone of a new, sustainable, and entrepreneur driven economy for the state. This initiative stands as a testament to the administration’s profound belief that Borno’s greatest strength lies in the ingenuity and unbroken spirit of its young people.
“We are turning a definitive page from short term aid to long term wealth creation,” declared Governor Zulum, inspiring beneficiaries and stakeholders alike. “This scheme is about partnership. We are investing in you, our youth, as partners to rebuild Borno from the ground up. You are not recipients; you are pioneers, employers, and the engines of our collective recovery.”
More than just capital injection, this uniquely structured scheme is a holistic ecosystem of support. It strategically targets over five thousand direct beneficiaries and thousands more apprentices across all local government areas, ensuring equity and statewide impact. The programme provides tailored financial stakes from venture capital for high flyers to seed funding for startups paired with essential modern training in digital skills, financial literacy, and business management to ensure lasting success.
This initiative is the latest pillar in Governor Zulum’s comprehensive and celebrated human capital development agenda, a blueprint already yielding exceptional results. This agenda includes creating specialized vocational centres, integrating youth into state services, and a globally minded academic sponsorship programme that has empowered over four hundred Borno scholars in international postgraduate studies, including advanced fields like aeronautics.
Commissioner for Youth Empowerment, Comrade Sainna Buba, highlighted the scheme’s inclusive design, praising the Governor’s hands on leadership and commitment to leaving no one behind. Governor Zulum further assured that this is only the beginning, with plans to integrate more organized sectors in subsequent phases.
With disbursements already flowing, the Borno Youth Empowerment and Innovation Scheme is now a live national model. It showcases how strategic investment in human capital, coupled with unwavering political will, can forge a path from post conflict recovery to prosperous economic resilience. Governor Zulum and his dynamic team are not just rebuilding a state; they are crafting a replicable blueprint for national renewal, one young entrepreneur at a time.
About The Author
