NUJ to Support Borno Development Plan
L-R: Dr. Mairo Mandara, SA Humanitarian Affairs to Gov. Zulum
Borno NUJ Pledge to Support Implementation of Government Development Plan
By Sadiq Abubakar
Borno State Government Advocacy Sub Committee on Implementation of the proposed 25 Years Development Plan and 10-Year Strategic Transformation Initiative has solicited for the support of Borno State working journalists for successful implementation of the plans.
Addressing members of the State NUJ Council at the NUJ Press Centre Maiduguri yesterday Leader of the Advocacy Team, Dr. Mairo Mandara who led other senior media practitioners 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”.
Dr. Mairo, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Humanitarian Affairs, added that, “we see journalists as partners in this project. We want you to own the document and champion the reorientation and social change needed for the successful implementation of the plan”.
“As we move to implement the plan, you should be our eyes as those closer to the people. We also call on Borno people in diaspora to come back home and invest. We also call on investors to take advantage of these opportunities to come and invest in the state”, Mauro 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.
“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”, Mauro said.
In his remark, the State Chairman, NUJ, Borno State Council, 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.”
He assured that the working journalists in the state who have passed through the thick and thin of the insurgency and reported objectively activities of the state government diligently as dedicated members of the NUJ, will continue to support and participate in the implementation process of the plans, while the government to carries the journalists along in its scheme of things across the state being watchdog of the society.
“We want this committee to take our message to the governor for the need to consider sponsorship of journalists both at home and abroad on the strategic communication and awareness campaign for the success of the plans”, Talba said.
Congratulating the government for the successful launch of the 25 years Development Plan, the Chairman reiterated that the working journalists in the state will be at the vanguard for the successful implementation of the plans.
