BY: AISHA YUSUF SABO, OCTOBER 31, 2026/ 04:41PM

---

Every October, the world turns pink. For the whole month, breast cancer occupies our timelines, workplaces, television screens and conversations. We wear pink. We share infographics. We encourage women to know their breasts and pay attention to unusual changes. Hospitals and organisations organise walks and screening campaigns, while social media fills with reminders that early detection can save lives.

All of these matters. But after years of Pink Octobers, I think we should ask a more difficult question: What happens after awareness? In Nigeria, breast cancer is not a small or a distant problem. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, 32,278 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in Nigeria in 2022, making it the most common cancer among Nigerian women. It was also the leading cause of cancer deaths among women that year.

Statistics is shocking on its own, but every number represents a person whose diagnosis eventually becomes somebody else’s mother, sister, daughter, wife, friend or grandmother. And yet, our conversation often stops at awareness. We tell women to check for lumps. We tell them not to ignore changes. We tell them to seek medical attention early. But what happens when a woman notices something and does not know where to go? What happens when she seeks help but cannot afford the diagnostic tests? What happens when she receives a diagnosis but cannot afford the treatment that follows? What happens when distance, misinformation, fear or stigma delays her from getting care? These are not questions that a pink ribbon can answer.

Awareness is important, but awareness without access can leave people knowing what to fear without giving them a realistic pathway to care. The World Health Organization’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative recognises this. Its approach is not simply to tell women about breast cancer. It calls for health promotion and early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment. Its targets include increasing the proportion of cancers diagnosed at stages I and II, ensuring timely diagnosis, and helping patients complete recommended treatment. That distinction matters.

A woman should not have to be wealthy to act on a health warning. She should not have to live in the city to find appropriate care. She should not have to choose between cancer treatment and feeding her family. She should not have to navigate a complicated health system alone. And she should not be made to feel that a late diagnosis is simply the result of not being “aware enough.” There are, of course, efforts being made. Nigeria’s National Cancer Control Programme includes public education, prevention, early diagnosis and treatment, effective therapy and palliative care among its mandates. The Federal Ministry of Health also reports ongoing efforts to expand oncology services and provide support for indigent cancer patients.

But the existence of programmes is not the same as universal access to care. That gap is where our attention should go. Pink October should therefore become less about how much pink we can put on display and more about what we are willing to build when October is over. We need stronger pathways for early diagnosis. We need accessible and affordable diagnostic services. We need treatment that patients can realistically complete. We need better support for families. We need accurate information that reaches women beyond urban centres and beyond social media. We need to reduce the fear and stigma that can keep people away from care.

So as October 2026 comes to a close, we need to remember that cancer does not wait for October. It also does not disappear on November 1. The woman who discovers a lump in January still needs somewhere to go. The woman receiving chemotherapy in May still needs affordable treatment. The family caring for a mother with advanced cancer in August still needs support.

That is why breast cancer awareness should not be the destination. But I believe we can work towards a future where fewer families have to experience that loss simply because a disease was detected too late, diagnosed too late, or treated too late.

So yes, wear the pink ribbon. Share the information. Start the conversation. But when October ends, let us ask what we are doing to make sure that the woman who listened to that conversation can actually access the care she needs. Because awareness can tell a woman to seek help. A functioning health system must make sure there is somewhere for her to go.

BY: DR. MOHAMMED GOJE, OCTOBER 11, 2026/ 10:01AM

---

“Lasting peace is priceless, and it begins with a classroom where every girl can learn without fear.”

On this year’s International Day of the Girl Child, we remember with profound sadness and honour the life and legacy of Late Alhaji Modu Wagani, a dedicated educationist and former Principal of Government Day Junior Secondary School (GDJSS), Buni Yadi, who passed away while serving his community.

At a time when Buni Yadi was recovering from the devastating shocks of conflict, Alhaji Modu Wagani chose to serve where his presence was needed most. He left the comfort of the city to return to a community struggling to overcome fear and uncertainty, determined to ensure that every girl had the opportunity to return to school, learn and build a better future.

He was more than a principal. He was a symbol of courage, innovation and hope. Through his dedication and creativity, he worked to restore confidence among schoolchildren, particularly girls, demonstrating that education is one of the most powerful instruments for rebuilding communities affected by conflict.

He understood that success was not measured by enrolment figures alone. Each year, he encouraged girls to return to the classroom, embrace learning and participate in planting trees—an enduring symbol of growth, resilience and hope for future generations.

He also understood that schools are more than government buildings. They are public assets entrusted to us to protect, maintain and make safe, dignified and conducive for learning. To him, every classroom was a sanctuary of opportunity where a girl could overcome fear, discover her potential and prosper.

Today, as we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, we honour a man whose life embodied the conviction that education is essential to lasting peace, and that no girl should be denied the right to learn because of conflict or fear.

In recognition of his sacrifice, dedication and invaluable service, and on behalf of His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, I am pleased to announce a commitment to offer full scholarships to all the children of Late Alhaji Modu Wagani, alongside the provision of a borehole in his memory at GDJSS Buni Yadi.

The borehole will serve as a lasting tribute to his legacy, sustaining the school community and symbolically continuing to water the trees he encouraged others to plant—a living reminder that the seeds of service we sow today can nourish generations yet unborn.

This gesture reflects the commitment of the administration of His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, to recognising dedicated public servants, strengthening educational opportunities and ensuring that those who sacrifice for our communities are not forgotten.

We shall continue to strengthen the motivation, welfare and recognition of our teachers, both living and departed, in line with the Governor’s commitment to education and human capital development. Their dedication deserves our support, and their sacrifices must continue to inspire us.

On this International Day of the Girl Child, we dedicate our message to Late Alhaji Modu Wagani—a teacher, a servant of his community and a champion of girls’ education in a post-conflict environment.

May his courage continue to inspire us. May the girls he encouraged become leaders of tomorrow. And may the trees he planted, the children he nurtured and the school he served stand as enduring testimonies to a life devoted to humanity.

May Almighty Allah forgive his shortcomings, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus and comfort his family, colleagues and the entire Buni Yadi community.

May Allah continue to restore lasting peace to our lands.

Thank you, Your Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, CON, for championing education, supporting our teachers and investing in a brighter future for the children of Yobe State.

International Day of the Girl Child | 11 October 2026.

Pics: Shared by Late Alhaji Modu during Last Years IDGC 2025 from GDJSS Buni Yadi Mega

BY SA'ID SA'AD ABUBAKAR, OCTOBER 06, 2026 | 04:48 PM

---

“Anyone who is criticizing PR is only doing that because they didn’t have the opportunity to be one.” Someone said in the X Space while trying so hard to defend his opinion about a political choice.

For more than an hour, I listened to the X (Twitter) Space. It consisted mostly of the vibrant e- voices of Northern Nigerian youths. The title of the Space was simple: “Ba Amana.”

Accusation from an opposing party about political differences.

Seems like a crowd of familiar faces, with familiar goals, resolving one common problem.

Wolves of rage, banter and whiplashing one man. Then it transformed into different topics till the next hour.

It wasn’t the first time I accidentally joined a Twitter Space as such. Since early this year, I have built the habit of frequently checking X to monitor trends (as a journalist and investigator), but also to be up to date about what is happening in my country. Most times, just for fun. To read people’s thoughts and, many times, to wonder.

Just a few days before now, at around 2 a.m. (German time), I stumbled upon a Twitter Space hosted mostly by young people from the southern part of the country. It was a hard-core conversation about the economy, and then another one about business, and another one about security. The first thought that struck me was: “I wish.”

At first glance into “Ba Amana,” I was completely drawn by the level of influence in the Space. To me, I wasn’t taken by the fact that most of the speakers were supporters of a particular party. It didn’t raise my brow that the conversation was NOT a conversation to create new or shape opinions, rather than to emphasize already-convinced thoughts. Neither was I pushed by the differences I share with the speakers.

I was drawn to the most powerful strength I could feel in the room. It was a room of fewer than 50. But when I read through the hosts, speakers and audience, I realized it was a room that comprised some of the most influential voices in the region. It was a room so powerful that they had the power to decide what trends and how. It was a room capable of shaping what people see online the next day. And this wasn’t just an assumption. It happened to me.

Some few months ago, when I announced the release of my documentary film, Uromi-16: The Story, about the story of 16 hunters who were killed as a result of mob justice in Uromi, Edo State, I observed the power of these people, some of whom I found here in the Space.

When they pushed the trailer and poster, our metrics, on one of the nights, measured the documentary as the 2nd most trending topic in the country. It was mind-blowing for me, especially as a small X (Twitter) profile holder with fewer than 1k followers. That, if you look closely, was even a push that seemed organic.

This is a group of young people who shape the trends. Therefore, most of them do that professionally. They work – mostly with politicians – to hawk the politicians’ manifestations and deliverables, while in return, they get paid.

This idea of promoting their political candidates and getting paid has been a subject of rage and conversation for as long as the X community has existed. While most of those who now see themselves as the ‘Yan PR were beginning to embrace the title jokingly, another opposing side strongly exists that frowns at that.

It’s a simple, clear definition. Yan PR believes: “I have the right to promote, choose or praise anyone I choose to. It’s a democracy. It’s my choice.”

While the opposing belief is: “Yan PR are surviving at the expense of the suffering of ordinary Nigerians, using their influence to cover up the incompetence of political leaders.”

These differences are not a tiny topic to dissect over a glass of juice. Or an easy concept to chew over a Mai Shayi table. But it’s a concept to look at closely.

When do you draw the line between promoting politicians and exaggerating their performance? When do influential people draw the line between promotion for payment and promotion for the good of the people? And lastly, are influential people ‘responsible’ for speaking about the people’s plight, just because they are part of the people? These are questions that need serious conversations, more than “Ba Amana.” But now, back to that.

Throughout the Space, I reacted only once, towards the end. I was yearning for anyone – anyone at all – who would come in with a thought similar to what I was thinking about.

Maybe something close. I didn’t want the thought to be about the similarities or differences.

I didn't want the person to come in and say they agreed or disagreed with Tinubu or Atiku. I was yearning for the person coming in to reflect on the power and influence of the people on the Space.

I wanted the person to say: Yes, promote your Tinubu as much as you want. But what other avenue or space can we create here that will productively improve young people like us in this Space? Not another conversation about: “How many federal government jobs have you gotten for people?” I wanted it to be about reflecting on the power within and using the power.

Similarly, I was yearning for the other opposing parties to come in and speak on the basis of value. Because, from their words and phrases, you could read clearly that they do not value the people they consider “Yan PR.” When you read what they post about them, its words full of contempt, devaluation and rage.

They consider them: “Yan Iskan Gari.” While it is not news that many of the people in this category curse each other with phrases like “Yan Kwalta” anytime there is a disagreement, that doesn’t classify each of them in that category. Therefore, irrespective of that, I was hoping someone from the opposing side would come differently. Speaking to them from the point of valuation. Remind them of the value of their influence on people. The purpose of that value and what that value can do. Rather than devaluing them, in a way that makes them look as if they are unimportant. You think they are unimportant? A group of young people with an e-voice so strong that they can determine what trends the next day? In a region of more than 100 million?

Think again.

But as fate would have it, or as “Ba Amana” will have its unfortunateness, what I yearned for didn’t happen. It ended with pleasantries that concluded with a well-detailed, fun-filled banter, enough to take all the attendees off their heads after a day filled with chaos.

For me, I see a group of people fighting the same cause, but with no defined purpose. The cause is simple: these people are searching for a solution for themselves or their societies. All of them. But only through different eyes. One believes in the current government as the solution. The other believes another candidate is the solution.

Another believes success comes when individuals like them win financially. All reasons are valid.

We are not calling for homogeneous views and opinions about politics. You can’t tell everyone to rally behind Atiku just because you hate Tinubu. Neither can you tell everyone to rally behind Tinubu just because you hate Atiku. Even in our homes, we struggle to convince people to believe in what we do.

Sometimes, we struggle to convince even our spouses. So why a total stranger on X? But if we look at it from the point of purpose, then we see a bigger picture. We will all push our candidates. But how do we push our people to learn, grow and succeed? We will promote our boss; how do we promote our ideas? We will sell a politician but how much can the politician buy our influence in terms of our youth development? We will share their achievements but how do we also expand our individual growth? How do we take “Yan Kwalta” out of the Kwalta? (Smiles).

These questions and many others should be the focus of our reflection. And only if we take a deep look at that, forget the differences and focus on the purpose, “Ba Amana” will only be a signature for the thousands of failures we will measure as a people.

Sa’id Sa’ad Abubakar,

Editor, Deutsche Welle (DW)

Germany

BY: ADAMU ALHAJI LAWAN, SEPTEMBER 29, 2026/ 10:57AM

My dearest Fatima,

Today, you turn 50, and as I look back at the years we have shared, I find myself thinking not about how much time has passed, but about how much of my life has you in it.

On 4th November 2000, I took your hand in marriage. I could not have known then all that life would bring us—the happiness, the challenges, the laughter, the quiet moments, the sacrifices, the disagreements, the forgiveness, the prayers, and the countless memories that would slowly turn two people into a family.

Almost 26 years later, you are still the woman whose hand I am grateful to hold.

Fatima, you have seen me at my best and at moments when I was far from my best. You have known my strengths and my weaknesses. You have shared my dreams, carried burdens with me, celebrated my successes, and walked beside me through seasons that only you and I truly understand.

That is why what I feel for you today goes beyond romance.

It is the love that comes from having lived life together.

When I look at Waleed, Kwaise and little Muhseen, I see three beautiful reminders of the life Allah has allowed us to build together. I see pieces of you in them, and my heart fills with gratitude for the mother you have been to our children and for the home we have created together.

I am proud of Dr. Fatima Adamu Lawan, PhD, and everything you have accomplished. But when all the titles are put aside, the woman I treasure most is simply my Fatima—the woman I married, the woman who knows me in ways few others ever will, and the woman with whom I have grown through almost three decades of life.

We are not the same young couple who began this journey in November 2000. Life has changed us. Parenthood has changed us. Time has changed us.

But there is something deeply beautiful about being able to look across all those years and say:

We are still here. Still together. Still writing our story

And if life gave me the chance to return to the beginning—to stand again at that doorway on 4th November 2000, knowing everything that these years would bring—the laughter and tears, the easy days and difficult ones, the triumphs and trials…

I would still reach for your hand. I would still walk this road with you. I would still choose you, Fatima.

On your 50th birthday, I want you to know something that perhaps ordinary days do not allow me to say often enough:

You are deeply woven into the story of my life.

Some of my happiest memories have your face in them. My greatest blessings call you Mum. And so much of the man I have become has been shaped by the years we have walked side by side.

My prayer is that Almighty Allah grants you a long and beautiful life, good health, peace in your heart, fulfilment in all you do, and the joy of watching Waleed, Kwaise and Muhseen grow into everything we have prayed for them to become.

And selfishly, I ask Allah for one more blessing:

More time with you.

More mornings. More conversations. More laughter. More family celebrations. More anniversaries. More memories. More years of growing older together.

Because after almost 26 years, there are still chapters of our story that I want to live with you.

Happy 50th birthday, my beloved Fatima.

Fifty years of your life have passed, and I thank Allah that for almost twenty-six of those years, I have had the privilege of calling you my wife.

May this Golden Jubilee be the beginning of an even more beautiful season of your life.

I loved the young woman whose hand I held in 2000. I admire the woman you have become. And I look forward to growing old beside you.

Happy 50th Birthday, my Fatima. ❤️

Forever grateful for you,

Adamu Alhaji Lawan

BY: LAKE CHAD TIMES, AUGUST 31, 2026 | 07:58PM

Alhamdulillah.

Today, Lake Chad Times clocks two years. Two years of newsroom meetings in borrowed spaces. Two years of chasing stories in difficult terrain. Two years of learning, stumbling, rising, and moving forward.

Starting a media organisation from scratch in Nigeria is never easy. Starting one in the Northeast comes with its own weight. There are financial pressures, logistics, skepticism from the people you hope to serve, and the daily grind of keeping reporters motivated when resources are thin.

We know this because we lived it.

When Lake Chad Times began, most of us were students on ITF with Yerwa Express News. We watched, we learned, and we caught the bug — the conviction that our region’s stories deserved their own dedicated platform. With the encouragement of the Editor-in-Chief of Yerwa Express News, Abdulhamid Algazali and other mentors who believed in us, we took the leap.

It has been challenging, but it has also been worth it. Because from day one, we made a choice about what kind of media we wanted to be.

A focus on the forgotten voices

Our top agenda has never been about chasing clicks alone. It has been about people. Women navigating healthcare with little support. Children out of school because of displacement. Families trying to rebuild livelihoods in communities that rarely make national headlines.

These vulnerable groups have been at the center of our reporting. Yes, we cover daily happenings around us and beyond. But we deliberately keep our lens on education, healthcare, and means of livelihood — because if journalism does not speak for those with the least voice, then what is it for?

In two years, that focus has shaped our identity. We are not just reporting events. We are documenting resilience.

Partnerships that pushed us forward

No media house survives alone. We are grateful for the organisations that walked with us.

Our partnerships with CATAI, Co Development Hub, and the Union of Campus Journalists, UNIMAID Chapter have been more than logos on a flyer. They opened doors for training, collaboration, and reach. They reminded us that when people believe in your mission, they will invest in it.

To every supporter who sent encouragement, shared our stories, or gave us a chance — this milestone belongs to you too.

What two years has taught us

We have learned a lot. We have been exposed to people and communities we would never have met otherwise. We have learned that credibility is built story by story. That consistency matters more than speed. That in a region that has faced immense challenges, the act of simply showing up to tell the truth is itself a form of service.

We have also learned that the work is far from over. The needs are still huge. The stories are still many. The challenges of running media — from welfare to equipment to safety — are still here.

But we remain focused.

The Road Ahead

In Shaa Allah, we will keep doing what we are doing: with passion, with commitment, and with the conviction that local journalism matters.

To our audience: thank you for believing in us. Keep believing. We will make you proud.

Two years ago, a group of young people decided to start something. Today, that something is Lake Chad Times — a platform for women, children, and the vulnerable; a platform for the Northeast and the Lake Chad region.

Happy 2nd year anniversary to all of us. The journey continues.

BY ZAINAB MUHAMMAD BASHIR, AUGUST 27, 2026 | 11:07 PM

---

The headlines will eventually fade, the hashtags will disappear, politicians will move on to the next controversy, and the world may turn its attention to another crisis, but Nigerian families who buried their loved ones will continue to live with the consequences.

This is why, now that the heated debate surrounding the ‘Christian genocide’ narrative appears to be losing momentum, Nigeria must confront a more difficult question: what comes next?

The debate has exposed something Nigerians can no longer ignore: the country’s security crisis is real, regardless of the label used to describe it.

Some Nigerians believe the term ‘Christian genocide’ accurately describes what is happening to Christian communities, while others argue that Nigeria’s insecurity is more complex and affects people across religious and ethnic lines.

Perhaps the most important lesson is that the debate over terminology should not distract us from the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.

A Nigerian who loses a father, mother, child, or sibling to violence does not experience that loss as a political argument.

The pain is the same.

Nigeria therefore needs to move from narratives to solutions.

Our security challenges are not the same everywhere, as terrorism, banditry, communal conflicts, farmer-herder tensions, and other forms of violence have different causes and require different responses.

Government must become more proactive, intelligence gathering must improve, security agencies must respond faster, and communities must be protected before attacks occur rather than only visited after tragedy.

But security alone will not solve the problem.

Nigeria must also confront poverty, unemployment, weak institutions, and the lack of opportunities for young people.

A young population without hope can become vulnerable to manipulation by criminal and extremist networks.

Education, employment, entrepreneurship, and economic development must therefore be treated as part of Nigeria’s national security strategy.

Religious leaders also have a major responsibility.

Christians and Muslims must be able to demand justice for their communities without turning their pain into hatred against another religion.

An attack on a Christian should concern a Muslim.

An attack on a Muslim should concern a Christian.

That is what it means to be a nation.

International attention can help Nigeria, but Nigerians must ultimately take responsibility for the country.

Foreign governments can provide assistance, intelligence, and resources, but they cannot build the trust, institutions, and leadership Nigeria needs.

The real question now is not who won the argument over the ‘Christian genocide’ narrative.

The real questions are: Who is protecting our communities?

Why are perpetrators able to continue operating?

Why are innocent people repeatedly exposed to violence?

And what are we doing to prevent the next attack?

Nigeria cannot afford another cycle in which tragedy produces outrage, outrage produces arguments, and the arguments eventually disappear until the next tragedy.

The narrative may change.

The headlines may move on.

But Nigeria cannot afford to.

The next chapter should be about protecting every Nigerian—Christian, Muslim, and everyone else—while rebuilding the security, justice, and economic systems needed to make that protection possible.

Because the ultimate goal should not be to prove whose suffering matters more.

The goal should be to build a Nigeria where every Nigerian’s life matters equally.

Note: Zainab Muhammad Bashir is a 300-level Mass Communication student at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State.

BY: EDREEZ NGULDE, AUGUST 26, 2026/ 11:38AM

There is a difficult conversation that our society must be willing to have: when we claim to be correcting people in the name of morality, are we actually reforming them or are we sometimes humiliating them?

This is not an argument against religion. It is not an attack on Islam, and it is not a call to abandon moral guidance. Rather, it is a call for responsibility, accountability and respect for human dignity in the way moral and religious regulations are enforced.

In Northern Nigeria, Hisbah organizations have played a visible role in promoting public morality and encouraging people to avoid behaviour considered harmful to society. Many people support the idea of guiding members of the community toward better conduct. However, the existence of a legitimate objective does not mean that every method used to achieve that objective should automatically be accepted.

Good intentions do not make every action lawful or morally right.

When a person is accused of wrongdoing, the objective should ultimately be correction and rehabilitation not destruction of the person's dignity.

If someone has made a mistake, particularly a young person, what happens after the arrest matters enormously. If the individual is counselled, educated and given an opportunity to understand the consequences of their actions, society may gain a better citizen.

But if that person's image is publicly displayed, their private information is exposed, their belongings are taken without proper legal authority, or they are subjected to unnecessary humiliation, we must ask a serious question:

Are we correcting the person, or are we creating a permanent social punishment for a temporary mistake?

Human beings make mistakes. One of the most important principles of any civilized society is that a person accused of wrongdoing should still retain their dignity and basic rights.

Publicly displaying an accused person's photograph or video before due process can have consequences that extend far beyond the original incident. The internet does not forget easily. A photograph uploaded today can remain online for years, affecting someone's employment, education, relationships and reputation long after the matter has ended.

This is particularly dangerous for young people.

A young person who commits a minor offence should not necessarily be condemned to a lifetime digital record of that mistake. If the purpose of enforcement is rehabilitation, then we should consider whether public humiliation actually helps achieve that goal.

There is also a serious question surrounding the handling of people's mobile phones and private information.

A mobile phone today contains an extraordinary amount of personal information: photographs, private conversations, financial information, family contacts, business records and personal documents. Taking someone's phone, searching its contents or exposing information from it should not be treated as an insignificant matter.

Privacy is part of human dignity.

Where authorities have lawful grounds to seize or examine a device, there should be clear procedures governing how that is done, what information can be accessed, who can access it and what happens to the information afterwards.

No organization should operate on the assumption that moral authority automatically gives unlimited authority over another person's private life.

We must also distinguish between guidance and punishment.

If an organization is established primarily to promote morality and encourage good conduct, its strongest weapon should not necessarily be humiliation or fear. Its strongest weapon should be education, counselling, persuasion and rehabilitation.

A person who has been arrested and treated with dignity may leave the experience determined to change.

A person who has been publicly humiliated may instead leave feeling rejected, angry and stigmatized.

That distinction matters.

Islam itself places enormous importance on human dignity, repentance and the possibility of reform. The purpose of moral correction should be to bring people closer to what is right, not to permanently destroy them because of a mistake.

The Qur'an teaches believers not to ridicule or insult one another, and it repeatedly emphasizes repentance and God's mercy. These principles should challenge everyone who claims to act in the interest of morality.

We must therefore ask ourselves what kind of society we want to build.

Do we want a society where people are afraid to seek help because they fear public humiliation?

Or do we want a society where people who make mistakes can be corrected, educated and given a genuine opportunity to become better?

The answer should be obvious.

This is why I am calling for greater accountability and clearer rules governing the activities of Hisbah and other bodies involved in public morality enforcement.

There should be clear boundaries concerning arrest, detention, searches, seizure of personal property, photography, publication of suspects' identities and the handling of private information.

There should also be mechanisms through which citizens can report abuse and obtain independent review when they believe their rights have been violated.

This does not mean that people should be free to violate the law without consequences.

It means that enforcement itself must operate within the law.

A society cannot claim to be defending morality while allowing the methods of enforcement to become immoral or unlawful.

We should also invest more in rehabilitation. Where a person has committed a minor offence, counselling, education, community-based rehabilitation and appropriate referral may sometimes achieve more than public humiliation.

Our young people need correction, but they also need hope.

They need boundaries, but they also need the opportunity to change.

They need accountability, but they must not be stripped of their humanity.

As a society, we should never confuse accountability with humiliation.

And we should never assume that because someone has been accused of doing something wrong, every right they possess has disappeared.

I believe Hisbah and similar institutions can make a positive contribution to society when they operate within clearly defined legal boundaries, respect human dignity and focus on genuine rehabilitation.

This conversation should therefore not be interpreted as an attack on religion or morality.

It is a call to make our enforcement of morality more lawful, more compassionate and more effective.

If our ultimate goal is to build a society where people become better, then we should measure success not by how many people we arrest or how many embarrassing photographs we publish, but by how many people we successfully help to change their lives.

A person's worst moment should not automatically become their permanent identity. Correction should restore dignity not destroy it.

BY MUSA IDRIS UMAR, MAY 05, 2026 | 04:21 PM

---

The political temperature in Borno State spiked a few days ago as the All Progressives Congress, APC, began sales of Expression of Interest and Nomination forms. Aspirants have since emerged from every corner, each seeking a ticket to contest in 2027.

Nowhere is that tension more palpable than in Jere Local Government Area.

Jere, with its 12 wards, had a population of 211,204 in the 2006 census. That number is now clearly higher. Over a decade of insurgency forced thousands from rural communities to relocate to Jere, drawn by its proximity to Maiduguri. The pressure on infrastructure, jobs, and social services has grown with that population.

As the APC moves toward primaries, the party appears to have adopted consensus for the gubernatorial race, endorsing Engr. Mustapha Gubio for 2027. But for other seats, the race remains wide open. Forms are still being picked, and aspirants are still declaring.

In Jere Federal Constituency, hope has finally found a new voice, a strong, compassionate, and truly people-driven leader. His name is Adam Isa Badamasi, fondly known across our communities as Adam Jere. His message is not just cutting through the noise; it is touching hearts. He speaks directly to the everyday struggles of our mothers, our youths, our families.

Adam Jere is championing what truly matters: real employment opportunities for women and young people, genuine women empowerment, and functional skills acquisition centres that can transform lives and secure futures. But beyond that, he carries a deeper conviction, that the people of Jere deserve dignity. He is committed to ensuring that every community has access to clean, portable water and the basic amenities that any human being should never be denied. At a time when many feel forgotten, Adam Jere has shown the clarity of purpose, the humility, and the grassroots connection that our constituency desperately needs. He listens. He understands. And above all, he cares.

Adam Jere is not running on slogans. His focus is the future generation. He talks about skills centres that actually work, about giving young people tools to earn, about lifting women out of dependency through vocational training and small business support. In a constituency bursting with unemployed youths and struggling mothers, that is not rhetoric. That is a survival plan.

Contrast that with what we have seen. Recently, Engr. Satomi donated N100 million to the University of Maiduguri during its 50th anniversary. A generous gesture, no doubt. But in Mairi, one of the wards he represents in Jere, some of his constituents are still searching for potable drinking water.

Every day, families in Mairi either buy water or trek to neighbours’ compounds to fetch from private boreholes. Children miss school hours. Mothers spend productive time in queues. Yet N100 million was gifted elsewhere while a basic need at home remains unmet. That is a misplaced priority.

Representation is not about photo ops or luxury convoys. It is about water. It is about jobs. It is about dignity.

A leader listens before he speaks, and acts where it hurts most. Driving exotic cars through streets where people queue for water is not leadership. It is performance. Jere has had enough of performance.

This is not a personal attack. It is a demand for accountability. The people of Jere need a representative who sees Mairi’s water crisis and calls it what it is: urgent. Who sees jobless youths and responds with skills, not speeches.

Adam Jere, with his “Amana” – Trust – slogan, is speaking directly to those gaps. He is tired, and the people are tired. That shared exhaustion is why crowds met him at the airport when he returned with his nomination forms.

The 2027 election will not be won on billboards. It will be won on basic critical infrastructure, youth & women empowerment in form of skill acquisition and entrepreneurship support, on financial inclusion and access to grants for women and the youth particularly, on job creation.

As delegates and voters in Jere, we have a choice to make. We can stick with showmanship, or we can stand behind a candidate whose mind is on empowering the next generation.

For better representation, for priorities that start at home, Adam Jere deserves our trust.

The writer is a Jere constituent concerned about youth unemployment and access to clean water.

BY ABDULKADIR M LAWAN, APRIL 2, 2026 | 1:32PM

---

To some, Prof. Usman A Tar may seem tough, but those who know him understand he's a principled personality with a kind heart.

As the former Commissioner of Information and Internal Security in Borno State, he encouraged, motivated, and supported future generations.

One testament to his character is the support he gave to my team and me when we started an online media organisation.

A year after his swearing-in, we paid him a courtesy visit.

Despite having lost a neighbour, he attended to us, offering encouragement and assurance of his support.

Our 45-minute meeting proved pivotal for our organisation.

When we invited him to our public launch on August 31, 2024, he showed up with a powerful entourage, promoting our work on his social media.

After the launch, I visited his office, and he called the MacArthur Foundation's country director, saying, 'Yaa Kole, I want to introduce to you Lake Chad Times Newspaper, it was initiated by young individuals, and they are doing excellently well so with your support they can explore further, please help them, I will now give Abdulkadir, their Editor-in-chief your number so that he can take the conversation further.'

Prof. Tar's legacy includes empowering young organisations and individuals.

His willingness to build and uplift others is a testament to his character.

Now, as he moves on from his role, we thank him for his guidance, support, and motivation.

His impact will be remembered, and his partnership will continue to inspire.

We wish him the best in his future endeavours.

BY: DAUDA ILIYA, JANUARY 14, 2026/ 12:14PM

The Servant-In-Chief of Borno State, Governor Babagana Zulum, trudged to five of the nine local government areas of Southern Borno Senatorial Zone of the state last week from 5th-9th January, carrying a hefty load of assorted deliverables to serve communities and groups there according to needs critical for the state's post-terror recovery programme and for rapid restoration of prosperity.

The deliverables served were in the forms educational and healthcare infrastructure, succour to vulnerable women and children, and assorted empowerments to youths and women who guarantee the rapid economic recovery and prosperous future of the beleaguered state.

Governor Zulum spent his first night in the remote town of Fikayel, which lies some 40 kilometres from Briyel, the headquarters of Bayo Local Government, following a journey along meandering rocky roads. Indeed, he is the first sitting governor to have spent a night in the community. He began serving the deliverables on Tuesday where he inaugurated two newly-constructed Government Secondary Schools (GSSs), one each at Fikayel and Balbaya; flagged off a High Islamic College project at Fikayel, and, with a startling passion for public service, ordered the digitalization of all secondary schools across the state.

Speaking at the launch of the High Islamic College project, Zulum said it was designed to integrate out-of-school children, particularly Almajirai, into a formal and modern educational system.

The college is to run a hybrid curriculum based on the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS), combining core Islamic education with contemporary science, technology and humanities.

“it is our sincere hope that the people of Fikayel will benefit from this school because we are targeting the enrollment of out-of-school children into this school so that learners can learn Arabic, and then we shall streamline the non-formal educational (Sangaya System) into the formal educational system by introducing intensive literacy, intensive numeracy, digital literacy and above all, vocational training,” Zulum said.

Briefing the Chief Servant, the Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, disclosed that High Islamic Colleges had already been built in 20 local government areas of the state.

The directive for the digitalisation of public schools is for integration of digital tools, e-learning platforms and smart classroom technologies with a view to enhancing teaching and learning outcomes.

The two newly inaugurated secondary schools, Fikiyel and Balbaya, comprise 20 modern classrooms, laboratories, a library and sporting facilities each.

Before departing Bayo, Chief Servant Zulum inspected the recently inaugurated Bilingual Boarding School in Briyel, which currently has 430 orphaned pupils on its enrolment.

He also inspected General Hospital Briyel and assured staff that the challenge of power supply would be addressed.

Zulum, now with a lighter load of the deliverables, then trudged to Kwaya-Kusar Local Government Area, where he delivered the newly constructed permanent site of Government Day Secondary School Wandali, ending 30 years operation of the school on a temporary site.

While delivering the school, the Servant-leader affirmed his administration’s commitment to revamping the education sector through substantial investment in infrastructure, manpower development, and digital and vocational skills.

“The construction of the permanent site of Government Day Secondary School Wandali fulfils our promise to provide access to education for communities across the state,” Zulum stated.

He expressed his administration’s resolve to revamp the education sector in the state.

Engineeer Wakilbe disclosed that the school had been operating from temporary accommodation since 1996. The school comprises 20 classrooms, a computer laboratory, administrative blocks, and fully equipped laboratories to enable students to learn digital and other skills.

While in Kwaya Kusar, the Borno Servant-In-Chief also inspected General Hospital Kwaya Kusar, where he promised to rehabilitate the facility and restore its electricity supply.

He commended the Medical Officer, an indigene of Rivers State, who has served at the hospital for the past four years, praising his dedication and service.

Quite relieved of a substantial part of the load, the Servant-leader trudged forth to Shani Local Government Area with the deliverables the communities there need. There, he delivered the commissioning of three model secondary schools, one each at three communities; and flagged off 22nd Higher Islamic College project at Shani, the headquarters of the LGA.

The schools commissioned are Government Day Secondary School, Shani; Government Day Secondary School, Borgu; and Government Day Secondary School, Gasi.

Speaking at the commissioning, Zulum said the projects fulfilled his pledge to ensure every child of school age has access to education, thereby reducing the number of out-of-school children, a problem exacerbated by years of Boko Haram insurgency.

“We are today commissioning three schools: Government Day Secondary School, Shani, which is being commissioned physically, while that of Government Day Secondary School, Borgu, and Government Day Secondary School, Gasi, are done virtually. This is in fulfilment of our campaign promise to provide access to education to our people,” Zulum stated.

The Chief Servant directed the Commissioner for Education to increase the allocation of computers and tablets to the new schools to enhance digital learning opportunities.

The Commissioner said each of the three schools comprises three blocks of nine classrooms and is equipped with digital facilities to ensure students have access to modern learning tools.

At the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Shani High Islamic College, Zulum said is, as is the case with all its sister Islamic Colleges, to integrate the traditional Sangaya system of education into the formal sector. It is to also to serve as a platform to counter negative ideologies and provide authentic Islamic teachings.

"As part of our campaign promise of constructing one High Islamic school in each of the 27 local government areas, we are today flagging off the construction of the 48-classroom High Islamic College in Shani," the Servant-leader explained:

“The college will serve as a platform to streamline the non-formal education (Sangaya system) into the formal education system by introducing intensive literacy, numeracy, digital literacy, and, above all, vocational training,” he said.

Before departing Shani, Chief Servant Zulum directed the immediate employment of volunteer nurses, midwives, and community health workers serving at the General Hospital in Shani. He issued the directive during an inspection visit to the hospital.

“The Hospitals Management Board is hereby directed to immediately absorb all volunteer nurses and midwives, community health workers (CHEWs), and JCHEWs into the payroll of the state government,” Zulum directed.

Earlier, the Servant-leader paid homage to the Emir of Shani, His Royal Highness Alhaji Muhammad Nasir Mailafiya, at his palace, where he promised to address challenges facing the people of the emirate.

In another startling show of compassion and passion for all-round recovery, Servant-leader Zulum released the sum of N100 million to the National Orthopaedic Hospital Azare Hawul (NOHA), earlier approved to address some of its teething problems.

He also announced a motivational support of N500,000 to each of the 29 medical doctors, N200,000 to each of the 16 nurses, and N100,000 to each of the non-clinical staff who were deployed from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital to the Orthopaedic Hospital in Azare, Hawul.

A great number of the teeming patients currently receiving treatment at the orthopaedic care were also supported with the sum of N30,000 each by the governor.

The Borno Servant-In-Chief further expressed his administration's determination to continue to support the hospital, noting that the healthcare facility has just started with zero allocation from the federal government.

He, however, urged the hospital management to imbibe the culture of maintenance in order to control those who lack the habit of maintenance culture.

Earlier, Dr Ali Mohammed Ramat, the NOHA's Medical Director, who conducted the governor round at the hospital, said that the facility was open to all patients and not limited to orthopaedic cases for the time being.

"We even had two gynaecological surgeries; we are fortunate enough to have a plastic surgeon who came visiting. We had a very good repair for the two of them (the surgeries) back-to-back," the medical director revealed.

He said that the hospital was generally doing well in terms of service delivery with a standing policy of providing drugs at affordable prices to the patients, among others.

Ramat thanked the Chief Servant for his kind gesture and generosity, adding that the hospital management would remain grateful and promised not to disappoint him.

In Biu, the Borno State Servant-In-Chief revealed his full exceptionally-compassionate self, causing eyes to swell with tears of joy and profound disbelief amongst vulnerable women and girls, for whom meaningful support had long seemed a distant dream. In a stunning turn of events, that dream became a life-changing reality.

These women and girls, drawn from eight local government areas of southern Borno and previously hindered by circumstance from furthering their education—found themselves at the heart of an extraordinary announcement.

Servant-leader Babagana Zulum, smouldering with uncommon compassion for the led, and passion for rapid economic recovery, was, on Thursday, at the inauguration of the “Second Chance for Women and Girls Skills Acquisition centre” in Biu town, where they are acquiring training in crafts from tailoring to catering, knitting and crocheting, bead making.

He instantly declared immediate financial support of ₦100,000 to be given in two tranches to each of the 400 trainees.

Yet the true showstopper followed. Upon enquiring which trainees possessed the qualifications for higher education, and seeing hands shoot up, the Governor unveiled an even grander gift: immediate scholarships to study nursing and midwifery.

Long after the Servan-In-Chief’s departure, emotions overflowed—a mixture of joy, exhilaration, and sheer wonder at this transformative intervention.

The newly inaugurated facility is part of a strategic initiative designed to offer adult women, including those who missed formal education or dropped out of school due to prevailing challenges, a pathway to self-reliance.

Chief Servant Zulum has, since assuming his Servant-leader capacity in 2019, been having sleepless nights, racking his professorial brain and fashioning out sustainable, broad-based economic recovery programme for his insurgency-battered state.

As part of the implementation of the programme, Zulum, in Biyu, disbursed N1 billion to small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) across five local government areas in southern Borno.

The targeted LGAs include Biu, Hawul, Shani, Bayo and Kwaya-Kusar, with the funds intended to support over 13,000 entrepreneurs and enhance business sustainability.

He pointed out that the direct injection of capital into the SME sector is essential for driving grassroots development and fostering self-reliance in the post-insurgency recovery phase.

To tackle youth restiveness and promote social stability, Zulum ordered immediate employment of 200 young individuals from the Biu Local Government Area.

Thereafter, he visited Biu Specialist Hospital where he announced the immediate and automatic employment of a number of dedicated volunteer health workers who have served tirelessly.

At the end of his visit, Zulum expressed delight "Am so happy to note that our administration has executed a lot of projects in the state especially in the areas of health and education. The most important aspect of our visit is the recruitment of human resources for health. It is pleasing to note that all the five general hospitals are now full equipped and staffed,".

He acknowledged that the visit to southern Borno is one the historic tour he has undertaken that has direct bearing on the citizenry. The visit delivered eight schools, performed groundbreaking ceremony of another four and directed the recruitment of about 50 medical workers.

As Servant-leader to all Bornoans, their de facto and de jure Chief Servant and the Servant-In-Chief of their terror-ravaged state, Governor Zulum’s five-day trudging around parts of Southern Borno, was a historic mission that touched lives at every level: from health workers and teachers to hospital patients, youth groups, and the less fortunate groups.

The depth of his compassion, empathy, and unwavering commitment to his people in the classical spirit of a Servant-leader serving the led with their crucial needs according to the imperatives of the times.

He is a Servant to his people, not a boss; a Servant-leader, not just a Governor.

Dauda Iliya is the Special Adviser to Borno State Governor on Media/Spokesperson