By Abdulkareem Haruna

MAFA, Nigeria – It was a day of profound gratitude and public recognition for Mabel Ijeoma Duaka, a 61-year-old nurse whose decades of selfless service in a town ravaged by insurgency earned her a permanent home and a job for her son.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State on Tuesday gifted Mrs Duaka, who is known locally as ‘Mommy Mafa’ a two-bedroom semi-detached bungalow in Mafa town, the governor’s own hometown. The gift was an exceptional reward for her unwavering dedication — a commitment so deep she refused to abandon Mafa even when the Boko Haram insurgency made the community unsafe for indigenes and residents alike.

For nearly three decades, Nurse Duaka, an Igbo woman from Anambra State, lived in Mafa, providing basic healthcare services to residents throughout the conflict. Among the countless people she treated were Governor Zulum, his mother, and other members of his family.



“We are rewarding your selfless service and dedication to duty as a nurse working in Mafa,” Governor Zulum said while handing over the keys and documents.



“Most of us enjoyed your service here in Mafa. You have treated me, my mother, and my family members as a nurse here in Mafa. This is time to say thank you to you because you refused to run and flee the state when Boko Haram was attacking. You stood behind us when others fled.”

The recognition came during the governor’s visit to Mafa to commission housing projects intended for local teachers. Though not an educator, Nurse Duaka was singled out for a special allocation. Governor Zulum emphasized that while the other houses were institution-based allocations, Nurse Duaka’s home was a direct allocation that could not be taken from her. He insisted the ownership papers be rewritten to bear her name, ensuring sole ownership.



In a further display of appreciation, Governor Zulum also offered an automatic appointment at the state university to Nurse Duaka’s elder son, a graduate, effective October 1, 2025.
Speaking to the media, Nurse Duaka, the In-Charge Nurse at the Mafa Primary Healthcare facility, expressed shock and immense gratitude.

“I have never believed that a non-indigene like myself would ever own a house of her own in Borno State,” she said.

“But here I am today being declared a house owner and my son an employee of the Borno State government. I thank the Governor for this and I worship God for his blessings.”
Ms. Duaka provided some background on her connection to the area:


“My name is Mabel Ijeoma Duaka. I am 61 years old and the In-Charge Nurse at the Mafa Primary Healthcare facility. I have four children—two boys and two girls. I am from Anambra State, and my husband is from Delta State. I’ve been working here for 24 years, starting in 2004,” she said.
She explained that it was a former classmate, Nurse Grema, and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Mafa who first brought her to the town after noting she had little work in Maiduguri.

“Since coming here, I have had a wonderful relationship with the people of Mafa. They are so kind to me and affectionately call me ‘Mummy of Mafa.’ I have never had a single problem with anyone and haven’t regretted my stay for one day. Though I cannot forget my home state, Mafa has impacted my life and become more than a home to me,” Nurse Duaka concluded.

The Borno State Commissioner for Education, Dr Lawan Abba Wakilbe, clarified that the nurse received one of the 72 new two-bedroom homes originally commissioned for teachers in Mafa, aligning with the state’s policy to incentivize education.