BY MUSA IDRIS UMAR, AUGUST 31, 2025 | 04:39 PM
Exactly one year ago, Lake Chad Times Newspaper was launched.
What started as a bold step into a new chapter of journalism has grown into a platform that informs, connects, and amplifies the voices of our people. For me, it has been a journey of purpose, responsibility, and service through storytelling.
Over the past year, I’ve had the privilege of reporting stories that touched lives and shaped discussions across Borno and the North-East.
Each report carried its own weight, and together they represent a tapestry of the struggles, resilience, and hopes of our society.
When residents cried out about the collapsed bridge, it was our report — Work begins on Fori Bridge in Maiduguri following Lake Chad Times report and residents’ plea — that echoed their voices.
Soon after, construction began.
That moment reminded me of the real power of journalism: to shine light where there is silence and to bring action where there is delay.
I documented the Borno Government’s food aid to over 50,000 households in Gamboru Ngala, showing how communities on the margins of survival were given relief.
I also told the story of Governor Zulum’s decision to clear SSCE and NABTEB fees for 26,000 students, a decision that brought hope to thousands of families who feared that education might slip out of their children’s reach.
In security and innovation, I covered the Nigerian Air Force’s specialized Anti-UAV Radar training in Maiduguri, a testament to how our forces are adapting to modern threats.
I was also there when the Electricity Act sparked conversations about renewable energy in the North-East, capturing the possibilities of light in communities long left in the dark.
I’ve reported on livestock investment discussions at the Qatar–Nigeria Business Forum, amplifying Borno’s push to modernize its agribusiness, and on the NorthEast Creativity and Innovation Summit in Maiduguri, where young people proved that talent and ideas can thrive even in places scarred by conflict.
On the humanitarian front, one of the stories closest to my heart was the Tales for Resilience photo exhibition in Maiduguri, which gave displaced persons the chance to tell their own stories through powerful images.
It reminded me that journalism is not only about speaking for the people but also creating space where people can speak for themselves.
I’ve stood on the crime beat too, reporting when the Police arrested two suspects and recovered vehicles in Maiduguri, because safety and accountability are as much a part of development as infrastructure.
And as a journalist in a conflict zone, I know that sometimes the story is about us too.
That’s why I wrote about the first aid training organized for journalists by the ICRC and Nigerian Red Cross, because in our line of duty, saving lives may one day include saving our own.
I also witnessed the Borno Government and World Bank collaboration to rebuild flood-damaged infrastructure, proof that local voices combined with global partnerships can make communities stronger.
And most recently, I covered how the Chad Basin National Park partnered with the Borno State Government to fight insecurity and environmental threats — a reminder that protecting our land is tied to protecting our future.
Every one of these stories was more than words on paper. They were voices amplified, truths documented, and sparks of change ignited.
As Lake Chad Times turns one, I am deeply grateful: to the communities who trusted me with their stories, to our readers who give meaning to our work, and to my colleagues who walk this path of truth with me.
This is not just an anniversary—it is a reminder that our work has only begun. The challenges remain, but so does our duty. And as long as there are voices to be heard and stories to be told, we will continue.
Here’s to one year of Lake Chad Times, and to many more years of fearless, impactful journalism.