Yobe residents unite to fund Emir’s palace construction

The Emir of Potiskum, Umaru Bubaram Ibn Wuriwa Bauya, has detailed how his community united to fund the construction of a new palace after the old one fell into disrepair. The initiative began in 1994 when the state government challenged newly appointed emirs to build befitting palaces.

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Thanks to my background at the Government Craft School, I understand the practical aspects of building projects. Rather than waiting for the government to do everything, I decided that the project should belong to the community. I explained to the people that the palace was a symbol of the Emirate and the Emirate belongs to every citizen.

Rather than relying solely on government support, the Emir emphasized the importance of community ownership. "The palace was a symbol of the Emirate and the Emirate belongs to every citizen," he stated. This call to action spurred youths to organize and raise approximately N1.5 million. The government later provided a matching grant of N3.5 million, which was pooled for the project.

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Young people organised themselves to raise funds, moving from place to place and eventually gathering about N1.5 million. Later, the government provided a take-off grant of about N3.5 million. I merged these funds into a single project account.

Elders contributed by mobilizing construction materials, and professionals offered their services pro bono. A female architect, whose name was not recalled by the Emir, provided the initial design. The Emir highlighted the palace as a testament to collective responsibility and a symbol of unity within the emirate.

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Respected elders volunteered their time to mobilise building materials like sand, gravel, and stones. We also received professional assistance from a female architect who volunteered her expertise to prepare the initial design. Individuals like Abdu Farfara and Alhaji Shuaibu Alaraba offered continuous support.

He stressed that the project was not about personal legacy but about strengthening the institution of the emirate. "Leadership is about serving people and leaving behind enduring institutions," the monarch remarked, expressing happiness whenever visitors admire the palace as a representation of what a united community can achieve.

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The palace was built through communal efforts. After it was completed, I looked for the female architect to thank her again, but she was nowhere to be found. She was a truly patriotic Nigerian. Whenever visitors admire the palace, I feel happy because it represents what a united community can achieve through collective responsibility.