Borno State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has called on Nigeria's business leaders and private institutions to invest in the state's recovery from insurgency. He made the call at the opening of a two-day Borno State Durable Solutions to Internal Displacement Private Sector Roundtable in Lagos. The meeting aimed to mobilize private capital for durable solutions and sustainable development in the state. Zulum, represented by his deputy, Hon. Usman Kadafur, emphasized the need for investments to help displaced families rebuild their livelihoods and create jobs for young people.
The Borno State government has made significant progress in its recovery efforts, with a 25-year Development framework aimed at developing the state into a secure, competitive agribusiness and commercial hub. The framework focuses on investment in people, agriculture, health, environmental sustainability, and regional trade. Zulum stressed that moving a family out of a camp did not, on its own, resolve displacement, and that lasting recovery would require families to earn a living, obtain essential services, and regain their independence.
Zulum cited the example of Monguno, where the state government, the United Nations Development Programme, the Federal Government, Germany, and other partners supported the provision of 1,900 permanent homes and semi-permanent shelters. About 4,000 people received grants, technical and vocational training, start-up packages, and agricultural inputs, with women making up 40 per cent of the beneficiaries. The programme also covered water, energy, markets, essential services, safety, and social cohesion.
The governor emphasized that housing alone is not resettlement, and that housing plus livelihoods, education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, and economic opportunity is what turns a settlement into a community. He said the administration had built 104 new schools and rehabilitated 2,931 classrooms and related facilities by December 2025. School enrolment had also risen above 1.8 million children, while the estimated number of out-of-school children had fallen below 800,000.
Zulum also highlighted the progress made in vocational training, with about 3,000 young people graduating from nine vocational enterprise institutes and centres across the state earlier in 2026. They received tools, starter packs, and entrepreneurship support to help them put their training to use. The governor thanked humanitarian organisations for saving lives during the crisis, saying that their efforts had helped to lay the foundation for sustainable development.
Zulum urged companies and private institutions to support resettled communities, partner with vocational institutions, and invest in businesses that could sustain themselves. He called for business commitments with clear timelines and measurable results, saying that "a camp cannot become a permanent address, and dependence cannot be the inheritance we pass from one generation to another."
The governor's call to action was clear: he is not asking investors to choose between conscience and commerce, but to recognise that, in Borno, conscience and commerce can reinforce one another. With the right investments, Borno State can turn its recovery into economic opportunities, creating a secure and competitive hub for agribusiness and commerce.
Key points
- Borno State governor urges investors to support state's recovery from insurgency
- Zulum cites example of Monguno, where 1,900 permanent homes and semi-permanent shelters were provided
- Governor emphasizes need for investments in education, healthcare, security, infrastructure, and economic opportunity
