From Uthman Abubakar, Maiduguri
Eleven state governors, among them, Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State, have been honoured with the prestigious Nurse-Friendly Governors Award at the 2026 Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Conference held in Abuja on Tuesday.
The other governors were those of Nasarawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Lagos, Katsina, Plateaue, Anambra and Akwa-Ibom states.
Speaking at the occasion, the president of the National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Haruna Mamman, explained that the governors were selected for the award following careful assessment based on the criteria approved by the NANNM.
Zulum was represented by the Chief Medical Director of the State Hospital Management Board, Professor Abubakar Kullima, accompanied by the Senior Technical Assistant on Print and Digital Communications to the Governor, Hon. Abdurrahman Ahmed Bundi.
Zulum, among many other projects, constructed and established Colleges of Nursing in the northern and central parts of Borno State.
According to the organisers, Prof. Zulum executed 120 projects in his first 100 days. 326 physical projects in the first year, over 500 in his second year, about 800 in his third year and around 1,500 physical projects in his 7th year.
Presenting the award, the president of the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation (CNMF), Professor Kathleen McCourt, lauded Governor Zulum for his outstanding service to humanity, particularly commending his massive housing schemes for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and extensive investments in health infrastructure.
She noted that the governor’s hands-on approach to restoring dignity to vulnerable populations has set a benchmark for leadership across the Commonwealth.
The 2026 conference, themed ‘Towards Excellence: Nurses and Midwives working together towards excellence in practice, education and regulation’, was attended by delegates from several Commonwealth countries
