Igiebor: Why Borno governor won Tell’s award
Borno State on Monday held a public presentation of a 299-page compendium of published news reports, news analysis, features, columns, commentaries, discourse, editorials, selected speeches and scorecard in the first year of Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum’s administration.
The event, attended by dignitaries and representatives of all segments of the Borno society, held at the multipurpose hall of the Gvernment House in Maiduguri.
The compendium, with 17 thematic sections, was authored by a 20-member editorial team, led by the governor’s spokespersons and media associates.
Danjuma Gambo, a professor of Mass Communication and Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Maiduguri, reviewed the compendium in the presence of many academics. He described it as “a smart, quick but also thorough and resourceful documentation of history”.
He said the compendium “is an all-in-one, invaluable aggregated research material, a template for prospective policy makers and a manual for courageous and purpose-driven progressive leadership”.
The don said what he found really interesting was the chronicle-style in which all materials were sorted with dates of publications, the news media’s mast heads and authors.
Speaking on objectivity, Professor Gambo said: “While I was going through all the 299 pages, I was expecting to see a one-sided compilation. I must say that I was highly impressed when I saw that the compendium entertained some stories that were critical of the governor, including one by the military.
“I think because of their journalism background, the compilers objectively collated all the key publications in relation to the Governor’s first one year in office” Gambo delcared.
Governor Zulum, in his remarks, paid glowing tributes to journalists, especially those living in Borno State, for their courageous reporting in the face of challenges.
He thanked the journalists in and outside Borno State for the support he had enjoyed from them; the evidence of which was the volume of reports on him which was collated by his aides into a rich compendium.
The governor, in company of his deputy and other dignitaries, ceremoniously unveiled the compendium that became available to the public at no cost.
Earlier, Borno’ State Commissioner for Information, Babakura Abba Jato, had welcomed guests to the occasion; while the governor’s spokesman, Malam Isa Gusau, paid tributes to each of the 20 members in the editorial team, explaining the contributions they made.
In his remarks before presenting the Tell’s award to Governor Zulum, Mr Nosa Igebor, 68-year-old veteran journalist, said the governor had remained consistent in his demonstration of unconventional courage in serving the people of Borno State since May 29, 2020.
“Leadership entails courage, commitment to the ideals of selfless service and unwavering dedication to pursue the best for the benefits of the people you lead and serve. Since your assumption of office as governor, you have consistently demonstrated these sterling qualities of leadership.
“Your style and substance are unmistakable and a welcome breathe of fresh air to the Nigeria’s sterile political space of selfaggrandizement. We are, indeed, very impressed by your resolve and determination to succeed in your mandate of delivering the dividends of democracy to the long-suffering people of Borno. While some other state administrators, including those whose domains enjoy relative peace, reel out excuses to the citizenry, you have remained undaunted in fulfilling your promise to a state that is under siege”.
“Your boldness to state things in black and white no matter the circumstances, has endeared you to many. In short, you have become the voice of the voiceless as you have proven that government is not for the fainthearted, neither is timidity or criminal silence a prerequisite for real term growth and development.”
“In view of the impressive profile that Your Excellency has built in a relatively short time and which has gone a long way to restore hope, not only to the people of Borno State, but also to the entire Nigerian citizenry, it is with much delight that the Executive Directorate of Tell Communications Limited is honoring and celebrating the most courageous and result-oriented governor in Nigeria, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, with the Tell Special Award as Governor of the Year for Courage in Leadership (2020). Congratulations sir”
Governor Zulum, in his response, expressed appreciation to the management of Tell Communications, saying he considered the award a challenge to do more.
Zulum described Igiebor as one of the veteran journalists who fought for Nigeria’s return to democracy in the 90’s despite arrests and detention, and had been holding leaders accountable through his 43 years of journalism.