In a powerful demonstration of service-driven leadership, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State recently honoured Mrs. Marbel Ijeoma Duaka, a nurse from Anambra State, with a fully furnished house and secured employment for her son at Kashim Ibrahim University, Maiduguri. This gesture, simple in action yet profound in meaning, exemplifies a leadership style that transcends ethnicity, religion, and regional divides—qualities that Nigeria urgently needs in its public officers.
Mrs. Duaka’s story is emblematic of dedication against all odds. She remained on duty in Mafa Local Government for over 24 years, even during the height of the Boko Haram insurgency, caring for communities in extreme circumstances.
It would be recalled that Zulum had in October 2022 rewarded another Igbo teacher, Mrs Obiageli Mazi from Abia State, with a house for her hard work and punctuality after 31 years of service in Borno State.
Governor Zulum’s recognition sends a resounding message: merit, commitment, and selflessness matter more than birthplace or tribe. In celebrating her service, he has not only rewarded an individual but also reinforced the principle that leadership is about lifting others and acknowledging contributions wherever they come from.
This act should serve as a blueprint for other leaders across Nigeria. Too often, political gestures are clouded by favoritism or ethnicity, deepening divisions instead of fostering unity. Zulum’s decision to honour a nurse from the South-East while serving a predominantly North-East state is a vivid example of detribalised governance—where competence and service are the criteria, not geography or identity.
Moreover, gestures like this resonate far beyond the immediate recipients. They cultivate trust, inspire dedication among public servants, and strengthen the social fabric. They reflect the Nigeria we continually preach about—a nation where everyone, regardless of origin, feels valued and represented.
In times when political rhetoric often eclipses tangible action, Governor Zulum’s recognition of Mrs. Duaka stands out as a beacon of how public office can—and should—be wielded: to honour service, promote inclusivity, and foster unity. One hopes other leaders will see this not as an exception but as a standard of governance worth emulating.
Nigeria’s journey toward true cohesion will be advanced, not by speeches or slogans, but by concrete acts of fairness and recognition. By celebrating service over sectarianism, Zulum has offered a lesson in leadership that, if widely adopted, could bring the ideals of One Nigeria from aspiration into reality.
