By Abdullahi Inuwa
In the heart of Borno State, where the scars of conflict still linger and the echoes of hardship are yet to fade, a quiet revolution is taking root—one led by resilience, skills, and purpose. At the center of this transformation stands Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, whose unwavering commitment to women empowerment and livelihood support is not only restoring hope but rebuilding lives with dignity.
Through deliberate policies and grassroots outreach, the Zulum administration has elevated women from mere survivors to active contributors in Borno’s post-conflict economic revival. With more than 8,000 women trained and empowered, 3,000+ start-up kits distributed annually, and over 120 cooperatives supported, the state is experiencing a gender-driven renaissance—one apron, one sewing machine, and one enterprise at a time.
Rebuilding Borno, One Woman at a Time
In a region where conflict displaced millions and fractured family systems, the plight of women—many widowed, impoverished, and traumatized—has been especially acute. Yet, Governor Zulum saw not victims, but untapped potential.
“We cannot rebuild Borno without empowering our women,” Zulum once declared at an outreach event in Gwoza. “They are the anchors of our households, the backbone of our communities, and now, the drivers of our economy.”
This belief inspired the launch of a sweeping women-focused empowerment strategy across all 27 LGAs, tailored to address the unique social and economic challenges women face in Borno.
Skills That Speak of Survival and Strength
The first leg of the program focused on capacity building—arming women with practical, income-generating skills. From tailoring and fashion design to baking, soap-making, poultry, and agribusiness, more than 8,000 women have been trained in trades that align with both local demand and cultural sustainability.
The trainings, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs, NGOs, and local trainers, emphasize both technical proficiency and business acumen.
For Hadiza Bukar, a 28-year-old single mother from Monguno, the program was a lifeline:
“I used to depend on relief materials. Now I bake cakes and supply bread to shops in my area. I earn, I save, and my children eat better.”
The program didn’t just teach skills—it instilled pride and purpose.
Tools for Transformation: From Training to Trade
Training without tools is a dead-end. Understanding this, Governor Zulum’s administration ensured that women were not left empty-handed after completing their courses.
Every year, particularly during symbolic events such as International Women’s Day and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, over 3,000 women receive fully-equipped start-up kits—free of charge.
These kits include:
- Sewing machines and fabric rolls
- Baking ovens, trays, and ingredients
- Soap-making chemicals and molds
- Farming tools, seeds, and fertilizers
With these kits, women can hit the ground running—opening home-based shops, catering businesses, or engaging in agribusiness right from their backyards.
Maryam Umar, who now runs a thriving soap and cream-making business in Biu, recalls how she received her first production kit in 2022:
“It was more than a gift—it was the beginning of my new life. I’ve grown from making soap for neighbors to supplying shops in Maiduguri.”
Strength in Numbers: Supporting Women Cooperatives
Beyond individual empowerment, the Zulum government has actively fostered cooperative development, recognizing the power of collective growth. More than 120 women cooperatives across Borno have received support in the form of financial grants, equipment, and technical mentoring.
These cooperatives bring together women with shared economic goals—be it agriculture, textiles, or food production—and boost their bargaining power and market access.
- Grinding machines allow groups to process food products for sale.
- Large-scale tailoring machines have turned small workshops into production hubs.
- Grants help cooperatives expand operations and hire more hands, often other vulnerable women.
Take the example of the Zaman Lafiya Women Cooperative in Damboa. After receiving a grant and an industrial grinder, the group moved from local processing to packaging and distribution.
“We now produce flour and seasoning locally. Our cooperative feeds our homes and feeds the market,” says chairlady Halima Musa.
These cooperatives have also emerged as safe spaces—where women support one another, build leadership skills, and discuss common challenges like gender-based violence, education, and maternal health.
Empowerment That Heals
In Borno, where the trauma of insurgency remains a fresh wound, women’s empowerment goes beyond economics. It’s about healing. Many of the women targeted by Zulum’s initiatives are widows of soldiers, survivors of abduction, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). For them, learning a trade and earning an income is not just about survival—it’s therapy.
Psychosocial support has been integrated into outreach programs, with trauma counselors and peer mentors helping women rebuild their confidence and regain their voice.
At a recent outreach event in Konduga, where women received agribusiness kits, one survivor shared:
“They took everything from us. But this government gave us something back—our sense of worth.”
Zulum’s Model: Grounded, Inclusive, Scalable
Governor Zulum’s model stands out not just for its reach, but for its execution. It is inclusive, ensuring women from the most remote LGAs are included. It is grounded, with input from community leaders and local NGOs. And it is scalable, with plans to expand digital literacy training and introduce women-specific loan schemes.
The Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs has already hinted at a next phase that includes:
- Digital marketing skills to help women sell beyond local markets
- Mobile micro-loans for women-led startups
- Community-based childcare centers to support working mothers
With increasing private sector partnerships, the women empowerment program is set to evolve into a sustainable, self-sufficient ecosystem.
A Legacy in the Making
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has often been described as a man of action, one who prefers results over rhetoric. His track record on infrastructure, education, and security is well-known. But perhaps his most profound legacy will lie in the quiet revolution he is sparking through women empowerment.
A revolution not built in parliaments or boardrooms, but in tailoring shops, bakery stalls, backyard farms, and community markets—where women are taking charge of their futures.
As Borno rebuilds from the ashes of insurgency, it is the empowered woman—skilled, confident, and productive—who is emerging as both the symbol and architect of the state’s recovery.
And as she stitches, bakes, or tills, her message is loud and clear:
“We are no longer waiting to be helped—we are helping ourselves.”
Abdullahi Inuwa Social Commentator ainuwa303@gmail.com
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