Borno Journalists to Play Critical Role In Implementation of 25 Year Development Plan

By Dauda R PamMaiduguri

The Borno state 25 year Development Plan and 10 year Strategic Transformation Initiative Advocacy committee has solicited for the support of working journalists in the state for its successful implementation.

Addressing a news conference at the NUJ Centre MAIDUGURI, the leader of Advocacy team, Dr Mairo Mandara, said ‘the document which took us over one and half years to produce seeks to transform Borno so that it will be as if it never had Boko Haram insurgency”.

In her media advocacy, Dr Mairo Mandara, who is also the Special Adviser to Governor Zulum on Humanitarian Affairs, said ” we see journalists as partners in this project. We want you to own the document and champion the re-orientation and social change needed for the successful implementation of the plan”.

She further said ” we want to take back the economic hub of not only the Northeast but the trans-African trade hub as Banki and Baga used to be economic centres . We need to, not only restore their past business position of Borno. We want Borno to be the leading economic hub in the entire Sahel region”.

” As we move to implement the plan, you should be our eyes as those closer to the people. We also call on Borno people indiaspora to come back home and invest. We also call on investors to take advantage of these opportunities to come and invest in the state”, she added.

According to her, ”our people want to go back to their communities .the government is doing its best to relocate them in dignified manner. You know the governor cannot do it alone. Our Borno is our success, together we can all build Borno.”.

Responding on behalf of the working journalists in the state, the chairman, Borno state council of the NUJ , Comrade Bulama Talba said “the NUJ has been following with keen interest the activities of the governor and was the first body to award Governor Zulum with the best performing Governor in Nigeria 2020. “.

While congratulating the government for the successful launching of the 25 years Development Plan, Comrade Talba assured the committee that the working journalists in the state will be the vanguard for successful implementation of the plan, , stressing that as journalists, the NUJ will guard the implementation of the plan, so that successive government should key into the implementation of the document.

He said ” we want this committee to take our message to the governor for need to consider sponsorship of journalists both at home and abroad on the strategic communication and awareness campaign for the success of the plan.