It is apparent that the ravaging effect of the Boko Haram insurgency has done more harm than good to the people of Borno, politically, socially and economically.
Economically, millions of people have lost their resources due to the enormous destruction of properties by the insurgent groups resulting in a lack of employment among the people of the state, especially the youth. Nonetheless, it has affected the political disposition of the state in many ways whereby unscrupulous politicians hire jobless youths and make political thugs.
On the other hand, the situation has affected thousands of people socially whereby multiple have been displayed in the IDP camps having zero places to settle, children turned beggars, and girls, into commercial sex workers while multiple is snatching people’s properties on the major streets of the town, all to cater for their needs.
However, the intervention of non-governmental organisations has also provided multiple Borno citizens with huge opportunities encompassing the affected women whose men lost their lives during the insurgency trauma. Many women are said to be engaged in small businesses to cater for their needs without anybody’s intervention.
Nigeria in a world of 8 billion people
Today in Maiduguri countless youths are tailors, fashion designers, carpenters, plumbers, auto mechanics, electricians, builders, painters and many more. However, most importantly, these youths are now employing others. As such, the high number of jobless youths has been reduced to a minimal level. Presently, only a few youths are jobless in the state.
Therefore, with the above-mentioned, I can say the long decade of insurgency is a blessing in disguise, only God knows the number of people who were employed, and ventured into small-scale and medium businesses in the aftermath of the insurgency.
Finally, calling on the youths to embrace small-scale and medium businesses to bring an end to the economic hardship in the state and Nigeria as a whole. Also, calls on the Borno state and federal government to create more additional entrepreneurship centres in Borno and Nigeria to overcome the nation’s huge challenges.
So, the lesson we learn in the aftermath of the insurgency is being economically hub.
Nasimatu Adamu Musa is of the Department of Mass Communication Borno State University
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