Gov. Buni Receives International Recognition for Good Governance, Impactful Leadership

Gov. Buni Receives International Recognition for Good Governance, Impactful Leadership

By Hon. Bego.

H.E Governor Mai Mala Buni has been honoured by the Africa Leadership Organisation (ALO) under the auspices of the African Leadership Magazine for good governance and outstanding leadership that prioritises effective service delivery in key social sectors having direct impact on the lives of the people, including healthcare, education, and agriculture, amongst others.

The award of excellence was conferred on the governor today at the 16th African Business Leadership Awards (ABLA) by the former President of Tanzania, Mr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete in a ceremony at the UK House of Lords in London. Mr Kikwete is the Chair of the Africa Leadership Organisation Global Advisory Board. He was supported by Lord Dolar Popat, a member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom while presenting the award to Governor Buni.

Other leaders also recognised for their services from Nigeria include the Governor of Imo State Mr Hope Uzodinma, the Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Political and Other Matters, Alhaji Kabiru Masari and the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye.

There were other leaders from across Africa, too, that were recognised and honoured for their political and economic leadership, including the Governor of the Central Bank of Sierra Leone, Mr Henry Falla Saamoi and President and Chairman of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), Dr George Donkor, amongst others.

In a speech delivered at a pre-award event on African Banking, Finance and Economic Leadership held at the Hilton London Metropole, Gov. Buni dedicated his award to the resilient people of Yobe State, describing the award as a “springboard that spurs us to do more to promote good governance and to serve the people better”.

Speaking on “Leadership ln An Era of Uncertainty: Building Resilience, Inclusion and Shared Prosperity In Africa-The Yobe State Experience”, Gov. Buni highlighted the heart-wrenching and difficult security challenges that Yobe State had faced from years of Boko Haram Insurgency, saying his administration worked across the board to provide the support that people needed in order to navigate difficult times.

“You may be aware that Yobe state is the second most-affected state by the protracted Boko Haram insurgency in North East Nigeria”, he said, underscoring how the insurgency had cost lives, displaced and shattered the dreams of many, and led to loss and damage to property, including schools, hospitals, and water and power facilities, amongst others.

“It is most unfortunate that such experiences have bedevilled many countries in Africa who are today plagued by one form of violent conflict or another. From the insurgency and banditry in Nigeria to the armed conflicts in the Sudan, extremist insurgency in Somalia, Mali and Niger, the secession threats in Ethiopia arising from ethnic differences and power struggle, the struggle for control of the mineral rich economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, it has been (a sad tale of) violence, loss of lives, and economic underdevelopment”, he said.

The governor explained that many studies have attributed poor leadership, corruption, greed, and injustice, amongst others, as responsible for the conflicts, saying leadership ‘in an era of uncertainty’ is, therefore, a daunting and challenging task that requires patriotism, focus, commitment and a strong spirit of teamwork. “This is necessary for building trust and promoting a sense of justice, fairness and equal opportunities for the citizenry”, he said.

Speaking on how Yobe State navigated the difficult waters of insecurity, the governor credited community mobilization and citizen participation and collaboration with security agencies as the some of the factors that brought about positive outcomes. “Our experience in Yobe state started with a vigorous sensitization programme for our citizens to appreciate that the government’s war against insurgency and other acts of violence was a collective war that requires everybody’s participation and that everybody has a role to play. As the security agencies adopted the kinetic approach, the civil administration in the state engaged in a non-kinetic approach”, he said, adding that the approach worked with very positive results.

Governor Buni added that as the government, security agencies, and the public worked together to restore peace and security, “the government reconstructed and replaced facilities destroyed by the conflict, while security and other institutions were encouraged to resume duties in the communities. This process also encouraged displaced persons to willingly return home, building resilience, and restarting their lives”.

The governor zeroed in on other specific measures he took to improve security, reposition education, improve healthcare, and strengthen the agriculture sectors, amongst others, saying his administration’s reform initiatives yielded practical and measurable results that were widely recognised and applauded. “For improving the healthcare delivery sector, we emerged as the best state in Nigeria in Primary Healthcare Delivery with a cash prize of $1.2m in an assessment by the body of Nigerian Governors, the Nigeria Governor’s Forum. Proudly too, we received the best state award on Public Finance Management, Fiscal Transparency and Accountability with a prize of N5b from the State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability Programme (SFTAS), a World Bank assisted programme”, he said.

“It is important to note that we achieved these feats through transparent, prudent, and judicious use of our scarce resources”, the governor added while recognising and appreciating President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the increase in states’ federally allocated revenue which enabled Yobe State to undertake numerous projects and provide various services to the people.

H.E Gov. Buni was accompanied to the event by his Gombe State counterpart, H.E Alhaji Inuwa Yahaya and the Hon. Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Rabe Muttaka Darma.