The Partnership Day event, organized by the USAID-funded Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity (RRA), was held 2024 in Maiduguri.
The event was implemented by Mercy Corps in collaboration with the International Fertilizer Development Centre and Save the Children International. The event brought together key stakeholders to discuss opportunities for fostering trade, investment, and economic growth in Borno State.
Mr. Ndubisi Anyanwu, Country Director Mercy Corps Nigeria, welcomed participants and highlighted Mercy Corps’ mission of alleviating suffering, poverty, and oppression by building secure and productive communities. He emphasized Mercy Corps’ commitment to addressing complex challenges through strategic partnerships, particularly in Northeast Nigeria, where insecurity and climate change present significant obstacles.
He said, ‘Our goal is to create a future of possibility where everyone can prosper. Mercy Corps has been operational in Nigeria since 2012, working alongside communities, g
overnments, and private sector partners to develop bold solutions that make lasting change possible,’ Anyanwu stated.
He outlined four key objectives of the event: positioning Borno as a competitive marketplace, rallying critical stakeholders, providing a platform for the state government to showcase its business-friendly reforms, and identifying shared challenges and opportunities for economic development.
‘We envision this event as a catalyst for investment in Borno State, aligning with the state’s 25-year development plan,’ he concluded, thanking USAID, the private sector, and state governments for their ongoing support.
Remarks by Dr. Mairo Mandara, Chief Adviser and Coordinator for Sustainable Development, Partnership and Humanitarian Support, to the Borno state Governor who was representing the Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, Dr. Mairo Mandara reiterated the government’s commitment to rebuilding Borno and restoring it to its former glory before the Boko Haram insurgency. She unde
rscored the significance of the governor’s 25-year transformative plan as a roadmap for Borno’s development.
‘We are taking bold decisions to build Borno and take it to a better place,’ Mandara stated. She highlighted the importance of aligning with Governor Zulum’s 25-year initiative, which aims to transform the state by addressing every aspect of development systematically.
‘Every step we take is focused on building Borno State. Our ambition is to restore Borno to its pre-insurgency status when it was one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing economies. This 25-year plan, encompassing all sectors of the economy, will help us achieve that vision,’ she explained.
Dr. Mandara also emphasized Borno’s potential as an agribusiness and commercial hub anchored on secure, competitive, and sustainable development. She encouraged participants to explore the ‘new’ Borno and see the progress firsthand.
The event highlighted the collaborative efforts needed to overcome challenges and unlock the economic potential of Borno Sta
te. The speakers stressed the importance of partnerships among governments, NGOs, and the private sector in achieving long-term, sustainable development goals. Mercy Corps and its partners remain committed to supporting initiatives that foster resilience and economic recovery in the Northeast.
Source: Voice of Nigeria