The Buni Mission: Building The Yobe Of Our Dreams

The Buni Mission: Building the Yobe of Our Dreams

By Hussaini Ibrahim

In Nigeria’s northeast, where insurgency once threatened to erase the future, Governor Mai Mala Buni is steering Yobe State toward a renaissance of peace, prosperity, and purposeful leadership. Since assuming office in 2019, Buni has transformed daunting challenges into milestones of hope, making him one of the most impactful and people-centered leaders of this democratic era.

At the heart of Buni’s success is his widely acknowledged open-door policy and inclusive governance style. His administration doesn’t just govern for the people—it governs with them. Traditional rulers, local community leaders, youth groups, and religious bodies are central to policy discussions. This collaborative approach birthed the Yobe Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, a platform that promotes interfaith harmony and swiftly addresses communal tensions.

Buni has also made women’s inclusion a cornerstone of his administration by appointing a record number of female commissioners and special advisers, ensuring that governance in Yobe reflects the full demographic and gender spectrum.

Security, a priority from the outset, has witnessed a significant turnaround. Through sustained coordination with security agencies and community vigilantes, Yobe has experienced the return of peace to many previously volatile areas. In towns like Buni-Yadi, Geidam, and Gulani, displaced persons are being resettled in newly constructed and rehabilitated housing, part of a state-wide reconstruction initiative. This deliberate effort has restored not just homes, but the dignity and sense of belonging among affected citizens.

In agriculture, the Buni administration has led what many now describe as a green revolution. Recognizing Yobe’s agrarian identity, the government launched the Yobe Agricultural Empowerment Scheme, which has supported over 50,000 farmers with improved seedlings, fertilizers, and subsidized tractors and farming equipment.

The scheme also introduced dry-season farming initiatives across the 17 local governments, significantly boosting crop yield and ensuring year-round productivity. These interventions have not only advanced food security, but improved the income and resilience of thousands of rural households, gradually lifting them out of poverty.

Infrastructure development under Buni has been transformational. In Damaturu, the dualization of major roads has decongested urban traffic and enhanced the city’s aesthetics. Beyond the capital, the government constructed over 300 kilometers of rural roads, linking farming communities to markets and social services.

A landmark achievement is the modernization and completion of the Yobe International Cargo Airport, now fully operational, positioning the state as a hub for trade and regional logistics. Simultaneously, electrification projects have connected numerous remote villages to the national grid, bringing light, security, and economic opportunity to places that were once in darkness.

The governor’s focus on healthcare has been equally visionary. Buni’s government upgraded and constructed Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) in all 178 political wards, ensuring that quality healthcare is never more than a short distance away.

In these facilities, maternal and child care services are now offered free of charge, significantly reducing preventable deaths. To meet the growing demand, the administration employed hundreds of health workers, including doctors, nurses, and midwives, thereby strengthening the human resource base of the sector.

One of Buni’s most inspiring legacies lies in education. With over 200 schools either renovated or newly constructed, and instructional materials distributed across all 17 local government areas, the learning environment has vastly improved.

In tandem, massive teacher recruitment and continuous training programs have been implemented to raise teaching standards. The administration has expanded girl-child education initiatives by providing scholarships and engaging in community outreach, confronting cultural and economic barriers to female education.

Perhaps most remarkable is Buni’s bold reform of the Almajiri system. Rather than abolish this deeply rooted Islamic learning structure, the governor integrated Quranic schools into the formal education curriculum, effectively blending faith and literacy. This model preserves cultural identity while ensuring that every child has access to quality education—a forward-thinking solution to a centuries-old dilemma.

In his drive for economic inclusion, Buni’s government has empowered thousands of youth and entrepreneurs. Through targeted intervention programs, over 10,000 individuals have received microcredit grants and business starter packs, enabling them to launch businesses and become self-reliant. These efforts are supported by strategic partnerships with organizations like the Bank of Industry and SMEDAN, ensuring sustainability and scale.

Even as he shapes Yobe’s destiny, Governor Buni’s influence extends far beyond the state. As former National Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he successfully led the party through a complex reconciliation process, culminating in increased unity and massive defections that strengthened the party’s national stature. Despite his national prominence, Buni remains laser-focused on delivering for Yobe, proving that true leadership begins at home.

Today, under Governor Buni’s stewardship, Yobe is steadily evolving into a model of resilience and transformation. Peace is no longer a dream—it is reality. Development is no longer an aspiration—it is visible in schools, hospitals, farms, and markets. For many in the state, the “Yobe of our dreams” is no longer a distant vision. It is being built—one policy, one project, and one empowered citizen at a time.

Governor Mai Mala Buni has not only raised the bar of governance—he has rewritten the narrative of what is possible when vision, courage, and compassion meet.

Ibrahim writes in from Kano and can be reached at Hussainiibrahim470@gmail.com , 09065350001