By Abdulkareem Haruna
MAIDUGURI – The President of Borno Agric Village, Alhaji Allamin Umara, has underscored the critical link between land titling, healthcare, and economic empowerment, describing them as the vital pillars of sustainable development.
Speaking at the organization’s headquarters in Maiduguri during a workshop focused on the Systematic Land Titling project for 50 women members, Umara noted that empowering women with secure resources is key to lifting rural communities.
The workshop, organized in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Empowerment and Better Health Initiative, aims to boost agricultural development while safeguarding the rights and livelihoods of vulnerable groups.
“A healthy and empowered population is better positioned to participate in economic activities, support their families, and contribute to community development,” Umara told the gathering. He stressed that the initiative goes beyond a routine courtesy visit, serving instead as a vital bridge to build institutional partnerships and expand opportunities for women and youth.
Commending the visiting delegation, Umara paid special tribute to key figures championing civil society and community progress in Borno State, including Dr. Bula Ma’aji Soro and Ambassador Ahmed Shuwu, alongside other stakeholders.
He lauded their unwavering support for the Borno Agro Village, noting that their commitment has significantly boosted local agricultural initiatives.
“We do not take this contribution for granted,” Umara said. “We regard them as trusted partners and friends whose support has sustained our journey and encouraged us to remain committed to our mission.”
The Borno Agro Village leadership expressed optimism that the synergy between agricultural training and land titling advocacy will yield long-lasting benefits for women in the region, paving the way for a stronger, more resilient community network.
During the workshop, the project consultant, Professor Abubakar Monguno, explained that the objective of the Systematic Land Titling (SLT) project is to help vulnerable groups – such as women and persons with disabilities – upgrade their customary land documents to official titles so that their lands and houses can be properly secured.
Dr. Babakura Bukar, who represented Professor Haruna Ayuba, explained that the initiative was sponsored by the African Cities Research Consortium at the University of Manchester. The consortium had earlier commissioned research into the major challenges facing cities and sought to determine which of these issues most severely affect vulnerable groups. Through this research, the challenge of land tenure was identified, which consequently led to the birth of the systematic land titling project.
He stated that the project is aimed at supporting female landowners in acquiring official titles for their properties, noting that throughout the course of the project, both women and persons with disabilities will be supported in processing their titles completely free of charge.
Comrade Bulama Abiso, a former Executive Director of NECSOB, added that the women of Agric Village in Maiduguri were specifically identified for this intervention because they are well-organized and operate small-scale businesses that have enabled them to acquire properties that may currently lack proper documentation.
Finally, Barrister Mustapha Ibrahim, the Acting Executive Secretary of BOGIS, took time to educate the women on the legal issues surrounding land ownership, as well as the implications of owning or selling lands that are not properly titled.
Ambassador Ahmed Shehu, who facilitated the engaging workshop that saw curious participants into asking several questions urged them to take home the message of the opportunity the SLT is providing for them and also educate other women to take advantage of the opportunity.