The Borno state Special Adviser and Coordinator on Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) and humanitarian services, Dr. Mairo Mandara,
has task the media on implementation of 25-year development plan.
According to her, journalists and their media; are to participate
actively in the implementation of recently launched plan by Governor
Babagana Zulum.
Mandara made the call at the weekend, while paying an advocacy visit
to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat complex,
Maiduguri, the state capital.
She said: “We need you to own this development plan, so as to champion
social reorientation and change,” noting that as Internally Displaced
Persons (IDPs) return to communities, the media need to encourage and
raise hopes for them.
“Your job is a calling,” she declared.
She said as respected watchdogs of society and agenda setter, the
media has a role to play by mobilizing the people key into
implementation of plan.
“We need you to own our biggest partners in this drive,” she said,
adding that this development plan is not for government alone, but for
all Nigerians.
She warned that without peace, there cannot peaceful coexistence among
various ethnic and religious groups in the nation.
Continued; she said: “Your inputs, including the story you carry will
determine what happened,” assuring that positive stories of hope and
aspirations of people will be fulfilled.
She declared that promoting peace and self-reliance for people take
their future into their hands, is best done by the media.
The implementation of plan, be driven by the Ministry of Finance,
Budget and Economic Planning, which had already been working in the
last three months.
While implementing the development plan, she said: “As we move forward
with the implementation of development plan, you need to be our eyes,”
by what she described as; “looking at opportunities don’t see and
correct us where necessary.”
She said the state’s plan development plan, came about with the
assessment of people of Borno and what they needed to do achieve
self-reliance among 70% of populace.
Mandara explained that the plan’s vision, is to ensure that the in the
next decade, the state would be transformed from an insurgency ravaged
society to peaceful and stable one.
This was why she said the state is expected to be secured and
prosperous society in regional agricultural business and commercial
hub in 25 years.
She noted that the hub will connect and supply markets with
agricultural and livestock products to Chad, Cameroon, Niger and
Central African Republic.
In identifying five-point driving pillars to achieve plan’s vision,
she said: “They include human and capital development, leadership in
agriculture, healthy citizenry, sustainable environment and regional
trade hub for commerce and tourism.
She said the implementation of these pillars, will create more wealth
and jobs among unemployed youths.
While responding, NUJ Chairman, Bulama Talba assured the advocacy team
of media support for successful implementation of development plan.
He also commended the renewed commitments of Governor Zulum in
transforming the state.
“Our members will continue to partner with the state government
implement the development plan,” he said, noting that this will
improve the living conditions of people in rural and urban centre.
