(By WALBE OGAK)
The Mulapnen Capacity Building Initiative (MUCABI), a Jos-based non-profit organisation, has announced plans to launch the Ali Bukar Dalori Youth in Politics Programme as part of activities marking Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration on June 12, 2026.
The programme, scheduled to be unveiled in Jos, Plateau State, is designed to mentor and equip young Nigerians with leadership values, civic knowledge, and practical skills needed for active participation in politics, governance, and public service.
According to the organisation, the initiative aims to bridge the growing gap between young people and the political process by creating opportunities for civic education, ethical leadership training, advocacy, policy engagement, and mentorship.
MUCABI explained that the programme would establish a mentorship network linking emerging youth leaders with experienced public servants, political actors, and community leaders within Plateau State and beyond.
The organisation further stated that participants would receive training on peaceful political participation, conflict prevention, and strategies aimed at reducing electoral violence among young people.
MUCABI noted that many youths are often exposed to political manipulation, intimidation, and violence during election periods due to unemployment, lack of orientation, and limited access to constructive political engagement.
“The programme is aimed at changing the narrative by encouraging issue-based politics, dialogue, tolerance, and democratic values among young Nigerians,” the organisation stated. “We believe young people must become ambassadors of peace during elections rather than instruments of violence.”
The organisation described the initiative as more than a training programme, stressing that it is intended to serve as a lasting leadership platform capable of inspiring generations of young Nigerians toward peaceful and service-oriented politics.
According to MUCABI, the programme is also intended to immortalize the contributions of Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori to youth development, democratic participation, and responsible leadership in Nigeria.
As part of preparations for the launch, the organisation disclosed that it has authored a leadership book documenting the life, public service journey, and political contributions of Alhaji Dalori.
The book, expected to be unveiled during the launch ceremony, will serve as a training resource for participants enrolled in the programme.
MUCABI also revealed that it has formally written to Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori seeking approval to use his name and legacy for the initiative, while also requesting his presence or goodwill message during the event.
Speaking on the development, the Executive Director of MUCABI, Nicodemus Samson Beska, said the initiative seeks to encourage young Nigerians to view politics as a platform for service, peacebuilding, and national development.
“We want young Nigerians to see politics not as a battleground, but as a platform for service, peacebuilding, and nation-building,” Beska stated.
He added that detailed implementation plans, including security arrangements and programme strategy, would be submitted to Alhaji Dalori’s office for review and approval ahead of the launch.
Applications for the first cohort of participants are expected to commence shortly after the official unveiling of the programme.
PROFILE
FOREWARD IN HONOUR OF ALI BUKAR DALORI
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Martin Luther King Jr.
These words capture the essence of Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori’s service to the people of Borno State, North east Nigeria and beyond. In a region tested by insecurity and natural disaster, his commitment has been measured not by rhetoric, but by action — from empowering thousands of young people with skills and opportunities to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with displaced families during the devastating Maiduguri floods and through the Boko Haram Insurgency.
I am very humbled to write the forward of this book titled: HON. ALI BUKAR DALORI: THE VISIONARY LEADER. I have known him as his teacher at the University of Maiduguri when he was studying for Advance Diploma in Public Administration (ADPA) as well as Masters in Public Administration (MPA). I have known him for more than ten years as a close friend and his teacher. It is with great elation that I salute the effort of Mr. Nicodemus Samson Beska for writing this book on one of the respected political elites in Borno State.
I have followed his work closely, particularly in two areas that define his impact. The first is youth empowerment. In a state where unemployment and idleness have too often been exploited for violence, Dalori invested in people. Through vocational training centers, ICT skill acquisition programs, agricultural grants, and direct mentorship, he turned hundreds of young men and women from dependents into entrepreneurs and community builders. He understood early that the authoritative allocation of values must prioritize the next generation, because without hope for our youth, there is no future for Borno. I have witnessed his interventions firsthand: vocational programs that turned jobless youths into entrepreneurs, and timely donations of food, shelter materials, and medical support when the 2024 floods left communities submerged. This book documents those milestones, but more importantly, it reveals the values behind them — compassion, resilience, and an unshakable belief in Borno’s future.
This observation provides an appropriate lens through which to assess the public service record of Alhaji Ali Bukar Dalori in Borno State. Over the past decade, the state has contended with overlapping crises of insecurity, displacement, and environmental shock. In such contexts, the authoritative allocation of values which is the core function of politics as defined by David Easton is tested not merely by policy formulation but by responsiveness, prioritization, and tangible outcomes.
The book contain 167 pages and it is divided into 12 chapters. It is clearly written in English and the author employed a unique writing style that draws on simple quotations to illuminate an idea at the beginning of each chapter. The First Chapter of the book x-rayed the life and achievements of Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali Bukar Dalori. The chapter introduces his early life by tracing the genesis of his journey from humble beginnings. Chapter Two explored the beginning of his business journey while Chapter Three delved into his political journey. The author started by looking at Dr. Dalori political participation in his home town in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State. It is his involvement with grass root politics that created the fertile ground for him to stive politically today. Chapter Four traces his rise from grassroots politics to becoming a prominent political figure in Borno State. Through a combination of hard work, vision, and perseverance, Dr. Dalori gradually gained the trust and support of his community, eventually securing an influential position that would allow him to shape public policy. The author clearly highlighted the socio-political achievements of Ali Dalori. He clearly set aside Chapter Five of the book to examine the political challenges and successes of this humble leader and a statesman.
In Chapter Six the business and political life of Dr Dalori was explicitly discussed. How he was able to navigate business and politics is worth noting. Readers of this work will learn how to balance these two extreme poles of business and politics. Chapter Seven assessed his contributions towards community development while Chapter Eight discussed his leadership philosophy. Chapter Nine of the text explored his future vision and aspirations. Chapter Ten was specifically designed to focus on Dr. Ali Dalori’s foundation. Chapter Eleven finally looked at Hon. Bukar Ali Dalori's legacy and the lessons from his political and entrepreneurial journey.
Deriving from the setting of this book, it is clear to deduce that this volume examines two domains in which Dalori’s interventions have been particularly salient. The first is youth empowerment. Scholarship on post-conflict recovery consistently identifies youth unemployment as a critical risk factor for instability. Dalori’s approach has emphasized human capital development through structured vocational training, ICT skill acquisition, agricultural extension support, and micro-enterprise grants {see Chapters 10–11 of this volume). The initiatives align with broader development frameworks that posit skill transfer and economic inclusion as prerequisites for sustainable peace in the Northeast
The second domain is disaster response, specifically during the severe flooding that affected Maiduguri and surrounding local government areas in September 2024 (NEMA). Natural disasters in fragile settings often expose gaps in institutional capacity. Dalori’s response was characterized by rapid mobilization of relief materials including food, medical supplies, and temporary shelter as well as direct engagement with affected populations (see Chapter 8 of this book). From a governance perspective, such interventions raise important questions about the role of political actors in complementing state led humanitarian systems, and about accountability in the distribution of emergency relief.
What distinguishes this compilation is its attempt to move beyond hagiography. By documenting programs, beneficiaries, and implementation challenges (Chapters 5 & 7), the author provides a basis for critical analysis of what works, what remains insufficient, and how political agency intersects with structural constraints in Borno State. For students of political science, public administration, and development studies, the text contributes empirical detail to debates on subnational leadership, patronage versus policy, and the politics of post-conflict reconstruction.
Borno’s recovery is an ongoing process that will demand sustained scholarly attention and multi-stakeholder engagement. This book is therefore a timely contribution. It invites readers to evaluate evidence, draw comparative lessons, and interrogate the mechanisms through which political leadership can advance human security and social development. As Chinua Achebe reminds us: “The greatest challenge of leadership is to find a balance between ambition and humility.” In the pages that follow, readers are invited to judge how that balance has been pursued — and what lessons it holds for governance in complex emergencies.
I therefore recommend it to academics, policymakers, and civil society actors concerned with governance. It is also recommended for students of politics, Public Administration and every citizen interested in rebuilding the Northeast, this work offers lessons in responsive leadership.
Dr. Raphael Audu Adole
Department of Public Administration
Faculty of Management Sciences
University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
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