As September 21 marks the International Day of Peace worldwide, it becomes necessary for us to put a pen to paper and acknowledge the resilience of the Maiduguri people, the capital of Borno State, and how the state deserves its moniker, “Home of Peace.” It is necessary to acknowledge and honour the history of Maiduguri’s resilience in overcoming challenges and obstacles.
Looking back at the historical context, the name “Maiduguri” originates from two Kanuri words: “Maiduwuri, “ a combination of “Mai” and “Duwuri.” In the Kanuri language, “Mai” refers to a king or leader, while “Duwuri” translates to “thousand.” Literally, Maiduguri (Mai+Duwuri) means “Thousand Kings.” Borno State was created on February 3, 1976.
Maiduguri has been ravaged by another disaster, the recent devastating flood outbreak that affected about two-thirds of the city. This calamity has destroyed houses and even the central market, which was recently rebuilt by the state government after last year’s fire incident.
What is remarkable is how Maiduguri residents have become resilient in the face of adversity. During the recent flood, I saw a heartening video on Facebook of a lecturer Malam Musa Usman, who met his former student struggling to escape the water but, despite the chaos, his smile and courage were very inspiring. That’s the unwavering, unbroken, spirit of Maiduguri people who show resilience in the face several obstacles they often face.
Sale Rusulana Yanguruza, Department of Mass Communication, Borno State University.
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