By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has been named the 2025 Best Performing Governor in Infrastructure Competitiveness at the BusinessDay States Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Awards (SCIRA).
The award ceremony, held on Thursday at the NAF Conference Centre and Suites, Jabi, Abuja, brought together top government officials, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to recognise excellence in governance, infrastructure delivery, and investment readiness across Nigeria’s states.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Governor of Jigawa State, Malam Umar Namadi; Governor of Benue State, Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia; and the Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Faruk Lawal Jobe, among several other high-profile guests.
Governor Zulum’s recognition underscores his administration’s sustained efforts in rebuilding critical infrastructure, reviving dormant sectors, and restoring livelihoods as part of Borno State’s post-conflict reconstruction and development strategy.
Over the years, the governor has earned a reputation for impactful governance, with multiple national and international accolades, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Most Media-Friendly Governor Award, Nurse-Friendly Governor Award 2026, New Telegraph Governor of the Year, Forbes African Leadership Award, and African Leadership Person of the Year, among others.
Receiving the award on behalf of the governor, his Special Adviser on Media, Dauda Iliya, conveyed Zulum’s appreciation to BusinessDay Media Limited for the recognition.
“On behalf of His Excellency, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum CON, FNSE, mni, I wish to express his heartfelt gratitude to the Publisher/Chief Executive Officer, management, editorial board, and entire staff of BusinessDay for considering him worthy of the Best Performing Governor Award in the Infrastructure Competitiveness Category at the 2025 SCIRA,” he said.
He noted that the honour aligns with the administration’s central focus on rebuilding Borno State through strategic infrastructure renewal and post-conflict recovery initiatives.
According to him, “This recognition is particularly meaningful as it reflects the core vision of this administration—rebuilding communities, restoring livelihoods, and laying a strong foundation for sustainable development.”
He added that in the past seven years, the administration has implemented nearly 2,000 projects spanning education, healthcare, transportation, housing, and water supply infrastructure, including the construction and rehabilitation of mega schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, flyovers, and housing estates.
Speaking at the ceremony, BusinessDay Publisher and Chief Executive Officer, Frank Aigbogun, described Governor Zulum as a standout leader whose administration has delivered one of Nigeria’s most ambitious reconstruction and reintegration programmes despite persistent security challenges.
“Governor Babagana Umara Zulum has distinguished himself as an exceptional leader who, in the face of a prolonged insurgency, has implemented one of the country’s most extensive reconstruction and recovery programmes,” Aigbogun said.
Members of the Borno State delegation at the event included the Chief Investment Adviser to the Governor, Dr. Said Alkali Kori; Senior Special Assistant on Media, Hon. Baba Sheikh Haruna; and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Internal Security, Alhaji Aminu Chamalwa.
Others were the Senior Technical Assistant to the Governor, Christopher Godwin Akaba; General Manager of Borno Radio Television (BRTV), Malam Ali Mamman Shuwa; Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Borno State Council, Comrade Abdulkarim Haruna; and the Council Secretary, Ciroma Ali Ibrahim, among others.
