BY FA'IZA JIBRIN

In a move widely seen as a boost for women’s leadership in public service, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has appointed Hajiya Mairo Bunu Lawan as the Chairperson of the Board of the Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (BOSCHMA).

The appointment, which is for an initial term of four years, was announced in a statement on Wednesday by the governor’s special adviser on media, Dauda Iliya.

He said this was also made in accordance with Section 5(1) of the Borno State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency Law, 2018.

Hajiya Mairo brings to the role decades of experience in public administration, having served as a permanent secretary in the ministries of agriculture, budget and planning, and water resources.

She also previously held the position of Borno State Accountant General, one of the highest-ranking financial roles in the civil service.

Her appointment is being celebrated by advocates of gender inclusion as a significant step toward recognizing and empowering qualified women in governance and health sector leadership.

She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (Finance) from the University of Maiduguri and she is a fellow of several professional organizations, including the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria.

She is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management and the Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria.

Hajiya Mairo has undergone professional training both in Nigeria and abroad, including a Policy, Strategic and Leadership Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and a program on International Public Sector Accounting Standards facilitated by PwC in London.

In the statement, Gov. Zulum congratulated her on the appointment, urging her to bring her wealth of experience to bear in advancing healthcare delivery through the state’s contributory scheme.

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Borno State House of Assembly.