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Gov Zulum Appoints Ex-Minister As SSG

Governor Zulum appoints Ex+ Minister As SSG Reappoints Prof Marte Chief of Staff
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Birno State has approved the appointments of Nigeria’s former minister of state for Agriculture and Rural Development, Malam Bukar Tijani as Secretary to Borno State Government.
The Governor has also reappointed Professor Isa Hussaini Marte as Chief of Staff.
The two appointments were announced by the Governor’s spokesman Malam Isa Gusau in a statement issued on Wednesday.
The statement noted that Zulum considered Tijani’s very high level experience from his services as minister from July, 2011 to September, 2013 and as Assistant Secretary-General/Assistant Director-General (ASG/ADG) of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
Through both offices and other national positions such as being the national coordinator for Nigeria’s National programme for Agriculture and Food Security as well as his coordination of the World Bank’s Fadama project, the former minister visited about 50 countries for different official engagements and he made significant contributions to the development of agriculture and food security in Nigeria, Africa and at the global level.
62-year old Tijani was born in Damasak but hails from Dikwa local government area of Borno State.
The former minister holds a Master of Science (degree) in Tropical Agricultural Development from the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, obtained in 1989.
Before that, he obtained his Bachelor of Science (degree) in Plant and Soil Science from 1982 to 1984 at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Alabama, United States of America (USA).
At later years, Malam Tijani attended courses with certificates at the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) at Turin, Italy, in 2014; at Alliance Française, Accra for Diplôme D’études en Langue Française from 2015-2017; at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) at Topo- Badagary in Lagos for Advanced Management Training in 1994; at the University of Reading, UK for Management Skills on Rural Development in
1993; at International Institute of Tropical Agricuture, IITA, Ibadan for Cowpea and Soya Bean Production and Utilisation in 1987 and at
Borno College of Agriculture, Maiduguri for Diploma on General Agriculture from 1978- 1980.
At his earliest stages of growth, the former minister attended Yerwa Government Secondary School, Maiduguri, from 1973 – 1978; Gubio Primary School, Gubio from 1970 – 1973 and Monguno Primary School from 1967 – 1970.
The former minister is is a Fellow of the Agricultural Society of Nigeria (FASN), Fellow, Soil Science Society of Nigeria (FSSN), Fellow (Honourary), P.R China, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences (JAAS), Recipient of Letter of Commendation for Meritorious National Service as a Minister of the Federal Republic by Nigerian President, Recipient of letter of Commendation for a job well-down on the formation of first Farmer’s Council in Borno/Yobe States, Certificate of Merit – American National Dean’s List (1984), Certificate of Merit – American National Dean’s List (1983), Recipient of Honour Roll Scholastic Achievement Certificate of Tuskegee University, Alabama, USA (1983) and be best overall student during his Diploma in Agriculture at Borno College of Agriculture, Maiduguri (1980).
The statement further conveyed Governor Zulum’s congratulatory message to the former minister and he looks forward to utilizing the former minister’s huge experience for effective and efficient coordination of Government activities with focus on multi sectoral development especially that of agriculture and food security which the minister is very knowledgable about.
Governor Zulum as a professor of irrigation agriculture, is very passionate about his continued repositioning of Borno’s economy through massive agriculture with attendant value chain development.
Meanwhile Professor Isa Hussaini Marte hails from Marte local government area of Borno State.
He had served as Governor Zulum’s chief of staff from August 17, 2020 to May 29, 2019.
The Professor had previously served as Borno State’s commissioner for Higher Education from August 2019 to August 2020. He also served as overseeing commissioner of health in 2021 while being chief of staff. He held both positions under the Zulum administration.
Isa Hussaini Marte is professor of pharmacology with specialty in cancer research and he is a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, member of the Society for Neuroscience, member of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and member of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria amongst others.
Marte holds a doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in pharmacology from King’s College London in 1987. He holds Masters Degree in pharmacology from Chelsea College, University of London in 1983. In 1997, he received obtained MBA from Averett University, a private non-profit college in Danville, Virginia, United States of America. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Prior to his tertiary education, Professor isa Hussaini Marte attended Yerwa Central Primary School Maiduguri, before moving to Yerwa Government Secondary School Maiduguri, where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1975.
Marte joined the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Maiduguri in 1981 but left in 1982 for a Graduate Program at Chelsea College University of London. After he received doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in Pharmacology from King’s College London in 1987, he returned to Nigeria to join the services of Ahmadu Bello University, where he was appointed a senior lecturer in 1991. He left the university to join the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Development (NIPRD), Abuja as chief research fellow and was later appointed head of Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology.
In 1993, he joined the University of Virginia School of Medicine as a research associate at the Department of Pathology. He served in that capacity for two years and in 1995, he was appointed professor of research. He served in that capacity for five years and in 2004, he was appointed as visiting professor, Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy, ABU Zaria.
In 2010, he was appointed dean of pharmacy and professor of pharmacology at the University of Maiduguri, a position he held till 2014. In 2013, he was elected as fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, the same year he was appointed as visiting professor at the Department of Pathology, University of Virginia.
Professor Marte is widely known for his high integrity that aligns with Governor Zulum’s principles and he has proven capacity and strong passion for societal development,
The statement noted that Governor Zulum congratulates Professor Marte and looks forward to the chief of staff resuming office with his proven efficiency in coordinating all affairs of the government house to enable the full attainment of governor Zulum’s bold vision that has been substantially achieved during the first term and now being continued with greater zeal.
News
There’s Political Genocide Against Christians in Northern Nigeria – Aisha Yesufu

By: Fabian Apechihin
Sociopolitical activist Aisha Yesufu has accused Nigerian political leaders of perpetuating what she described as a “political genocide” against Christians in Northern Nigeria.
Yesufu made the remark on Tuesday in response to American comedian and TV host Bill Maher, who recently alleged that Nigerian Christians are facing coordinated attacks.
Maher, speaking on his HBO show, said, “I’m not a Christian, but they are systematically killing Christians in Nigeria. They’ve killed over 100,000 since 2009 and burned 18,000 churches. These are the Islamists, Boko Haram.”
Reacting via her X handle, Yesufu criticized what she called hypocrisy among Nigerian politicians who express concern over Christian persecution yet supported the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket during the 2023 elections.
“You are shouting that Northern Christians are being persecuted, but you championed a Muslim-Muslim ticket! Their Christianity was not Christian enough for you during the 2023 election,” she wrote.
She concluded by calling for greater attention to what she termed the “political genocide” against Northern Christians, urging consistency in both words and actions when addressing religious and political marginalization in Nigeria.
News
Jagunmolu to Kwarans: Don’t lose hope in govt on security challenges

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Jagunmolu and Asiwaju of Igbomina, Alhaji Chief (Dr) Abdur-Raheem Oladimeji, has expressed optimism that the rising insecurity in parts of Kwara State would not overwhelm the state.
He identified the incidences of banditry and kidnapping for ransom as a passing phase, which was designed by unscrupulous elements to destabilise Kwara.
Oladimeji, who is the Founder, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin and Baba Oba of Offa Kingdom, said this in a statement issued in Ilorin on Monday in response to the recent security breaches in some communities in Kwara North and Kwara South.
He urged the residents of affected communities, and Kwarans at large, not to lose hope in the ability of the government and security agencies to tame the roughnecks and restore peace to their communities.
The Arogundade of Lagos described the terror campaign as an unconventional warfare that requires tactics and wisdom on the part of the military to tackle, pointing out that the attackers often cowardly withdraw to their shells after visiting attacks on their victims.
He cautioned those who are out to profit from the ruins of the affected communities by making mockery of the situation with reckless comments to stop forthwith.
Oladimeji also warned against scaremongering being created over the security challenge, urging vigilance and making useful information available to security agencies on any strange movements in their communities.
“Let us be wary of scaremongers, who have made it their daily habit to create imaginary fear as a result of which people are thrown into panic mode. That there is security breach has not been denied. However, we need to be careful and circumspect on the information unauthorized individuals circulate on the issue of insecurity,” the varsity founder noted.
Jagunmolu, who doubles as President-General, AROIF, appealed for calm, unity, security consciousness, while commending the government for its proactive intervention to rout out the unscrupulous element.
He praised the gallantry of military personnel and other security operatives, calling for words of encouragement among the people to boost the morale of the armed personnel.
Oladimeji sympathised with the families of those who lost their loved ones in the recent tragedy and called for additional deployment of security personnel to troubled areas for quick restoration of permanent peace.
“We need to pray for peace and justice to return to Igbomina land, Kwara and the entire country so that we can overcome our moment of trial and tribulation. Our people should take it as a matter of duty to report strange movements to the security agencies and constituted authorities,” Jagunmolu added.
END.
News
Northern Christians Urge Tinubu to Resettle Displaced Persons in Benue, Plateau, Borno

By: Fabian Apechihin
Northern Christian leaders have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently resettle displaced persons in Benue, Plateau, and Borno States, many of whom have remained in camps within and outside Nigeria years after violent attacks forced them from their ancestral homes.
The appeal was made in Jos, Plateau State, during a meeting with the President, which clerics described as a renewed opportunity to highlight the plight of displaced communities in Northern Nigeria. The leaders were in Jos to attend the funeral of Mama Lydia Yilwata, mother of Prof. Nentawe Yilwata, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Rev. Dr Amos M. Mohzo, President of the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) and Chairman of the Heads of Denominational Leaders on the Plateau, lamented that more than 200,000 people from Gwoza in Borno State still remain in refugee camps in Cameroon and Chad.
“We humbly appeal to you, Mr President, to help bring them back home. In the same vein, we are calling for a lifeline for displaced communities in Plateau and Benue States. Rebuilding their livelihoods and housing will reposition them for meaningful life and productivity,” Mohzo said.
He commended the President’s efforts to strengthen national security and support for state police, stressing that resettling displaced families was critical for peace and stability in the North. Mohzo also thanked Tinubu for key appointments of Northern Christians—including Senator George Akume as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, General Christopher Musa as Chief of Defence Staff, and Prof. Nentawe Yilwata as APC National Chairman—and urged broader inclusion of Christians in governance.
Similarly, Rev. Joseph John Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Northern Nigeria, reinforced the call, urging Tinubu to establish a Special Presidential Reconstruction Initiative to rebuild homes, restore livelihoods, and provide social infrastructure for displaced families.
“Our people cannot continue to live in camps when their ancestral homes have been taken over. We are appealing to Mr President to act with urgency so that these Nigerians can return home and live meaningful lives again,” Hayab said.
The clerics pledged continued commitment to peace and national unity, assuring the President of their support for policies that promote justice, inclusivity, and human dignity. They also extended condolences to Prof. Yilwata, the Ngas nation, and the people of Plateau State over the loss of Mama Lydia Yilwata.
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