Bura Culture Day 2025: Inspiring heritage preservation, empowerment, tourism
By Godwin Okondo
BURA Culture Day 2025, organised by Bura Women Development Association (BUWDA) on April 12, 2025 at AGNL Park in Gudu, Abuja, was a celebration of vibrant Bura Culture and marked a significant milestone with the launch of a microfinance bank and a fundraising initiative for the renovation of a guest house at the Skills Acquisition Centre in Marama, Hawul Local Government, Borno State. The colourful showcase of Bura heritage drew distinguished guests, community leaders, sponsors, and well-wishers united in celebrating Bura cultural pride and community development.
An excited President of BUWDA, Mrs. Mary M. Hamman, expressed gratitude to attendees and emphasized the importance of cultural heritage, when she said, “It is my honour to welcome you all to this momentous occasion, the Bura Culture Day Celebration and the launch of our microfinance bank and fundraising for the guest house at the Skill Acquisition Centre in Marama.
“On behalf of the Bura Women Development Association (BUWDA) and the organizing committee, I express our deepest gratitude to each and everyone of you for joining us today. We are thrilled to have our esteemed guests with us, who have taken time out of their busy schedules to share in the richness of Bura people’s culture. Your presence is a testament to the importance of our cultural heritage and the value of community.
“To our sponsors, donors, and well-wishers, we are grateful for your generous support. Your contributions have enabled us to make todays’ event possible and will help in making a meaningful impact on our community and bring us closer to achieving our development goals. As we celebrate our culture and heritage, we recognize the power of unity, solidarity and collective effort. We are proud to have a vibrant and supportive community that comes together to make a difference.”
Mrs. Hamman stressed the uniqueness of Bura culture in mobilising society towards moral rectitude and unity, and as a source of education and the role women play in community development.
“Today marks a significant milestone in our journey towards progress and prosperity,” she said. “We look forward to continuing our work together to build a brighter future for the Bura people. The Bura culture is unique; it promotes peace, unity, morals in our society, great warriors and most importantly embedded with education which is the bedrock of development, as we celebrate this landmark achievement in the history of our association lets give it to the Bura women who, despite being great mothers, compete with their peers in various sectors of our economy which is clearly impactful in the society.
President, BUWDA, Mrs. Mary M. Hamman
“When you empower a woman, you are empowering generations and generations to come. Ladies, and gentlemen enjoy the sights and sounds of the Bura culture as you go round to see for yourselves our rich cultural artefacts, local cuisines and the cultural dance. Thank you for your participation and support. May God bless you all and guide us on our path forward. Thank you for coming.”
The event’s chairman, former Chief of Army Staff and Ambassador to Benin Republic, Amb. Tukur Yusuf Buratai delivered his remarks in Babur/Bura language, reinforcing the significance of cultural preservation and community progress.
“I am honoured to stand before you today to celebrate our rich cultural heritage on this momentous occasion of our Bura Culture Day,” he said. “Today, we gather to promote and preserve our culture, strengthen the bonds of unity and solidarity among our community members, and chart a course for our community’s development and growth. As we celebrate our culture, let us remember that our heritage is a vital part of our identity. It is what defines us, what unites us, and what sets us apart. Let us preserve and promote our culture for the benefit of our children and generations yet unborn. Our community has come a long way, and we have achieved great things together.”
Gen. Buratai praised the foresight of the women in their vision to tackle one of the challenges of development Bura society – access to financial – that the microfinance bank being launced represented.
“However, we still face many challenges that hinder our progress and development,” the former army chief said. “I therefore commend the foresight of the Bura Women Development Association establishing a Microfinance Bank to provide financial services and empower entrepreneurs in our community. This bank will drive economic growth and development, create jobs, and reduce poverty in our community. I am made to understand that in addition to the microfinance bank, the association is also building a well-furnished guest house to promote hospitality and tourism in our community.
“This guest house will provide a platform for cultural exchange and learning while also generating revenue for our community. As the association embarks on these laudable development initiatives, I urge you all to generously support the fundraising effort. Let us work together to build a brighter future for our community. In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to the numerous sponsors, organizers, and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to make this event possible.“
A former permanent secretary in the presidency and the event’s guest speaker, Dr. Bukar Usman, highlighted BUWDA’s achievements and future aspirations, when he said, “The parent body of the Association whose activities I have followed closely and has kept me informed since its inception has all the best of intentions to improve the welfare of our people and the development of Buraland. So far, the Association has been fortunate to have leaderships that are committed to its laudable objectives and with all sense of modesty have something physically on the ground at Marama, which houses the Association’s Skills Acquisition Centre, to show.
“All who had the opportunity to attend the well thought-out training facilities at the centre have benefited and the facilities remain ever open to attract more and more trainees and visitors. Skills acquisition is part of education which our people have embraced seriously at all levels since its introduction by former colonial administrators and foreign missionaries to our native community decades ago. It will be recalled that BUWDA which was inaugurated in 2014 established the Marama Skills Acquisition Centre in 2020.
“The centre was formally commissioned by the Borno State Government on December 31, 2022 which was also the day of the graduation of the first set of trainees of the centre. The centre is our pride and a showpiece of self-help in Buraland, Biu Emirate, Borno State, North-Eastern Nigeria for others to emulate. It is also a lasting legacy to the goodwill and commitment of the initiators alive and of blessed memory. We should thank those of them alive immensely for their selfless contributions. For those who have passed on, we should continue to remember them with fond memories.”
Bura women gaily dressed at the culture day celebration 2025… in Abuja
Dr. Usman commended Bura women’s laudable initiative, saying they would further uplift Buraland to enviable height. He advised the women keep a keen eye on the projects and apply sound management ethics to nurture the bank to success.
“With new leadership, the association is embarking on new initiatives to improve the facilities at the centre and accord more comfort to august visitors far and near,” Dr. Usman enthused. “Having thought it fit, the proposal to promote microfinance bank that will further open up our rural communities to modern financial transaction required for rapid socio-economic development is most welcome.
“However, its take-off should be based on sound feasibility studies and assured financial management after its take-off. These are heavy responsibilities that rest on the shoulders of current and succeeding leaderships of the association and it is my hope and prayer that the leaderships would continue to perform creditably to earn and retain our peoples’ confidence and trust for the overall development of Buraland and sustenance of the worthy objectives set out by the initiators of the association and the centre.”
The retired bureaucrat stressed the importance of skills acquisition to Bura people, but also urged farmers to adopt modern methods to improve yield and lessen the stress associated with manual labour in farming. He canvassed the return of agricultural shows as a way of showcasing farm produce.
“I should emphasize that skills of various kinds are badly needed by our people to supplement farming as a major traditional occupation of our people. Farming itself is requiring introduction of modern farming methods and production at a higher scale to meet up with growing population. We tend to leave naturally-endowed vast arable lands suitable for mechanization uncultivated. It is time to minimize scratching the ground with inefficient hoe and labour intensive, the terrain permitting.
“While our native plant species are worth conserving, we should find a way of doing so without kindizing the dire need for increased crop production. Agricultural Shows should be revived and regularly staged to show improved crop and animal varieties and reward exemplary farmers with new and more efficient farm implements. In conclusion, I wish the leaderships of the Abuja-Chapter of BUWDA and of the parent body every success in their endeavours. They deserve every support generally and timely too.”
The celebration featured displays of Bura cultural artifacts, local cuisines, and traditional dances, captivating attendees and showcasing the community’s rich heritage. The launch of the microfinance bank aims to empower entrepreneurs and drive economic growth, while the guest house project seeks to boost tourism and cultural exchange. The event underscored BUWDA’s commitment to education, skills acquisition, and socio-economic development. Attendees were urged to support the fundraising efforts, with speakers emphasizing unity and collective action as keys to a prosperous future for Buraland.
