In a touching recognition of selfless dedication, the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, presented a fully furnished two-bedroom house to Mrs Marbel Ijeoma Duaka, a health worker who has devoted over two decades to serving the state, even amidst the peak of the insurgency.
Mrs Duaka, an indigene of Anambra State, was among 72 teachers and health workers who received housing units at a ceremony inaugurated by the governor on Tuesday in the Mafa Local Government Area. The gesture highlights the Borno State Government's commitment to appreciating non-indigenes who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the state's progress and the welfare of its people.
According to a report by Bendel Mirror published on Thursday, October 9, 2025, Governor Zulum specifically lauded Mrs Duaka for her commitment to duty at the Primary Healthcare Centre in Mafa for more than 24 years. The governor noted that she never left the town, even during the most severe periods of the Boko Haram crisis, when many residents and workers fled.
“She has been working here for over 24 years and has never left Mafa for a single month,” Governor Zulum said while handing over the allocation letter and house keys. He further praised her, saying, “During the Boko Haram crisis, most people fled the town, but she stayed throughout the conflict despite being a non-indigene. She has treated most of my family members, including my mother.”
The governor urged the nurse not to leave Mafa, even after her retirement, assuring her that the allocation letter for the house would be issued in her name.
Responding to the unexpected honour, Mrs Duaka described the day as the "happiest" in her life. She expressed immense gratitude to the Governor, recounting his previous support for her and her family. "He provided me with a scholarship to study BSc in Health Education; today he has given my son a job and given me a house. I am truly grateful,” she said, acknowledging His Excellency for appreciating her work in Mafa.