By Abdullahi Inuwa
In the heart of Nigeria’s northeast, where years of insurgency once painted a bleak portrait of displacement and despair, a quiet transformation is taking place. Borno State, under the leadership of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, is writing a new chapter one anchored not in tragedy, but in hope, resilience, and empowerment.
Across communities once marred by conflict, people are regaining control over their lives through comprehensive, people-centered interventions that prioritize dignity, inclusion, and long-term development.
The cornerstone of this transformation is a bold and strategic investment in people. In just one year, the Borno State government disbursed N1.5 billion through its Social Investment Programme to support households, groups, and individuals.
This significant financial commitment didn’t just provide a lifeline to the poor; it injected momentum into local economies, helping traders restock their wares, farmers replant their fields, and widows and displaced persons begin anew.
The investment has created ripples of opportunity that extend far beyond immediate relief, fostering self-reliance and economic stability among thousands.
Yet, the story doesn’t end with cash assistance. Across towns like Bama, Konduga, Gongulong, Biu, Kwaya-Kusar, and Shani, the sound of progress hums through newly equipped ICT skills acquisition centers. These are not mere training facilities, they are launchpads for the digital future of Borno. Here, young men and women, many of whom grew up amid the trauma of insurgency, are now acquiring skills in computer literacy, software development, and digital entrepreneurship.
In these centers, hope takes the shape of a keyboard, a monitor, and a lesson plan tools for a new generation that refuses to be defined by conflict.
At the forefront of these empowerment efforts is the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, which has emerged as a critical driver of inclusive growth and social justice.
Guided by Governor Zulum’s people-first vision, the Ministry is delivering programs that meet the diverse needs of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Its approach is holistic, integrating legal reform, health, education, and livelihood support to create lasting change.
In Maiduguri, a fully functional One Stop Center for gender-based violence (GBV) survivors offers a sanctuary of healing and empowerment.
More than 1,200 survivors have received medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance, and vocational training. A small production unit within the center has produced over 5,000 reusable sanitary pads, not only meeting a basic need but also providing employment and training for women.
This model demonstrates how compassion and practicality can coexist, turning recovery into opportunity.
Expanding this network of care, the state has operationalized two Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs), with a third on the way. These centers are integrated into a larger ecosystem of response, supported by over 30 partner organizations that meet monthly to coordinate services.
Their collective effort ensures that survivors are not left to navigate their trauma alone but are instead guided through a continuum of care, justice, and reintegration.
The Ministry’s work reaches deep into the communities. In places like Monguno, Bama, and Konduga, safe spaces have been created, places where over 8,000 women and girls come together for healing, skill development, and peer support.
These centers hum with activity: sewing machines clicking, voices rising in shared learning, and children playing in corners of newfound safety. They represent the physical and emotional rebuilding of lives interrupted by war.
Importantly, Borno has taken firm legal steps to institutionalize protection and empowerment. In January 2022, the state domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law and the Child Protection Law, signaling a clear commitment to human rights.
Through grassroots awareness campaigns that have reached over 45,000 people, these laws are no longer just texts, they are becoming lived realities in schools, religious centers, and traditional institutions.
For women across the state, empowerment is increasingly synonymous with entrepreneurship. More than 8,000 women have been trained in skills such as tailoring, baking, soap-making, and agriculture. Each December, during the 16 Days of Activism, and on occasions like International Women’s Day, more than 3,000 of them receive startup kits, turning learned skills into viable businesses.
Over 120 women cooperatives have been supported with grants, grinding machines, sewing tools, and other essential equipment. These investments are transforming homes into workshops and ideas into income streams.
In a state where the scars of insurgency still run deep, social reintegration remains a priority. Borno is pioneering a humane and strategic approach to the reintegration of former insurgents through the DDRRR (Demobilization, Deradicalization, Rehabilitation, Reconciliation, and Reintegration) process.
The Ministry leads this delicate effort, working with communities to reintegrate over 2,300 surrendered individuals. At the same time, it continues to support over 1,800 vulnerable women, 1,200 unaccompanied and separated children, and 400 persons with disabilities, ensuring no one is left behind in the journey toward normalcy.
The children of Borno are also being prepared for leadership and civic participation. The revitalised Children’s Parliament is giving 60 young members a platform to engage in policy dialogue, while outreach programs tied to events like World Children’s Day and the Day of the African Child have reached more than 10,000 children. Their voices are being heard and more importantly, respected.
Girls, in particular, are finding new role models and opportunities through school-based outreach, mentorship, and advocacy events around the International Day of the Girl Child. Each year, over 5,000 girls are reached with messages of education, self-worth, and safety.
These efforts are sowing the seeds of a more equitable future, one where Borno’s daughters can dream as freely as its sons.
This sweeping empowerment agenda is not an isolated effort but part of a deliberate and well-coordinated vision.
It aligns with Borno’s 25-Year Development Plan, the 10-Year Strategic Transformation Initiative, and the Third State Action Plan. In doing so, it reflects a state not only determined to rebuild, but also to redefine its future, one community, one program, and one empowered citizen at a time.
The story of Borno today is not one of pity or perpetual conflict. It is a story of resilience. Of communities that have endured unimaginable hardship but are now finding strength in new skills, fresh opportunities, and renewed purpose.
It is a story where empowerment is not a gift bestowed, but a right reclaimed, and a foundation laid for generations to come.
End
About The Author
