Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum on Thursday led Borno’s delegation to Yobe State Government Education Appeal Fund Raising, held in Abuja.
The event, held at the Sheraton Hotel, and chaired by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, was co-hosted by Governor Mai Mala Buni and the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan who hails from Yobe.
Governors of Ekiti, Kebbi, Kogi, Sokoto, and Jigawa states, Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello, former Governors Bukar Abba Ibrahim, and Senator Rochas Okorocha were among numerous dignitaries.
Borno Government and stakeholders in the State donated a combined sum of N115m supporting Yobe State.
Professor Zulum in his remark announced the donation of N50 million Naira from Borno State Government.
He further announced a donation of N45 million on behalf of Borno’s three Senators, 10 members of House of Representatives, 28 State Assembly members, APC State Executives, Chairmen of the 27 LGAs, members of the State Executive Council, Special Advisers and other key stakeholders.
The Governor said whatever affects Yobe, invariably affects Borno, hence the interest in supporting Yobe.
Before Zulum’s announcement of N95m donation, Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, Kayode Fayemi, announced that Borno State Government had contributed N20m to a pull of fund raised by 35 States beside Yobe being the beneficiary.
He explained that each of the 35 States donated N10m, but Borno added another N10m.
With that N20m and Zulum’s announcement of N95m, the combine sum of N115m came from Borno State Government and its key stakeholders.
Zulum commended the Yobe State Government for its drive towards transforming the education sector.
“Let me begin by applauding the vision of Yobe state Government for organizing this very important fund-raising with a view to addressing the deteriorating education in Yobe state. In addition to the monetary sum, I want to inform the Governor of Yobe state that insha’Allah, we will sacrifice time and energy to contribute in sharing thoughts towards the development of Yobe State education sector particularly in capacity building” Zulum said.
The Professor recalled that the six States in the northeast, made up of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe had suffered losses to the tune of about $6.9 billion from the deadly activities of Boko Haram insurgents hence the need for support from well-meaning persons groups.
He said the insurgents were particular about destroying the education sector in the northeast in line with their ideology, hence Yobe’s focus on reviving education.
The highest point of the event was the donation of N1billion by the chief launcher, Alhaji Dahiru Bara’u Mangal (Chairman of Mangal group).
Alhaji Aliko Dangote donated N350million and AbdulSamad Rabiu gave N300million.
There were numerous donations from other dignitaries and invited guests supporting Yobe’s developmental vision through a fund that has a board of trustees to manage the implementation of key educational programmes.
