By Abdullahi Alhassan
Borno, Nigeria –June 15, 2026 (Series News Online)- Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has been named BusinessDay’s 2025 Governor of the Year on Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Awards, SCIRA, in the Infrastructure Competitiveness Category.
“The award ceremony is scheduled to be held on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at NAF Conference Center & Suites, Jabi, Abuja,” the statement said.
Zulum’s nomination was conveyed in a letter by the Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of BusinessDay Media Limited, Frank Aigbogun, addressed to the governor.
“On behalf of BusinessDay Media Limited, Nigeria’s foremost business and economic intelligence platform, we are honoured to inform you that Borno State has been nominated for 'Best Performing Governor' under the Infrastructure Competitiveness Category for the 2025 States Competitiveness/Investment Readiness Awards (SCIRA),” Aigbogun stated.
Aigbogun said the nomination recognizes Zulum’s efforts in rebuilding infrastructure, reviving industries, and restoring livelihoods under Borno’s post-conflict recovery programme.
“According to him, Governor Zulum’s nomination acknowledges his administration’s extraordinary strides in rebuilding infrastructure, reviving moribund industries, and restoring livelihoods as part of Borno’s long-term post-conflict recovery,” he stated.
He added that Borno’s reconstruction programme stands out despite years of insurgency.
“Your Excellency, few states embody the spirit of renewal as Borno does. Against the backdrop of a decade-long insurgency, your government has delivered one of Nigeria’s most ambitious reconstruction and reintegration programmes, with infrastructure as its anchor,” Aigbogun added.
He highlighted key interventions driving the state’s transformation.
“Highlights of this transformation include: Revival of Industrial Assets: The Borno Plastic Industry and Borno Meat Processing Company, once abandoned, have been progressively rehabilitated, signaling a return of productive capacity and investor confidence,” Aigbogun said.
“Industrial Hub Redevelopment: Through the Borno State Industrial Park and Enterprise Centre, BIP, over 2,000 SMEs now operate in structured facilities that provide power, workspace, and logistics support,” he stated.
“Infrastructure-led Recovery: Over 10,000 houses have been reconstructed across local government areas, enabling market access and trade linkages among Maiduguri, Biu, Monguno, and Gwoza,” Aigbogun said.
“Energy & Industrial Power Supply: The Maiduguri 50MW Gas Plant and collaboration with the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, have significantly enhanced industrial energy reliability,” he added.
Aigbogun said the efforts have improved Borno’s rating as a post-conflict investment destination.
“Mr Aigbogun said these efforts have repositioned Borno as a credible destination for post-conflict industrial reinvestment that combines human development with economic diversification,” the statement noted.
He explained the methodology used for Borno’s selection.
“Borno’s shortlisting was derived from the BusinessDay Research & Intelligence Unit, BRIU, and BudgIT State Competitiveness Model, 2025, using a Composite Infrastructure Competitiveness Index, CICI, based on three weighted dimensions,” Aigbogun said.
He cited Borno’s performance across infrastructure, education, and health indices.
“Across these parameters, Borno ranked among the top five northern states, with its infrastructure recovery index improving by over 41% between 2020 and 2024,” he stated.
“In the education and health sectors, construction of over 100 secondary schools, Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital and staff quarters, doctors’ quarters, as well as take-off support for Federal Polytechnic Monguno, Federal College Gwoza, School of Nursing and Midwifery in Gwoza and Monguno, and the Orthopedic Hospital Azare, amongst others,” Aigbogun remarked.
The publisher concluded that Borno now serves as a model for post-conflict competitiveness in Africa.
“The Publisher acknowledged that Governor Zulum’s administration has rebuilt confidence, reconstructed and resettled communities, revived industries, education, and healthcare, noting that today Borno stands as a model of post-conflict competitiveness in Africa,” the statement said.
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