Governor Mai Mala Buni has appointed more than 10,000 youths to head establishments in his administration, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yobe State chapter, has said.

Mohammed Gadaka, state APC chairman, made this known at the Yobe leadership and innovation summit 2026 in Damaturu on Friday.

The summit, organised by the Centre for Leadership and Good Governance, Damaturu, had the theme: “Consolidating Governor Buni’s Legacies: Sustaining a Future of Inclusivity in Governance.”

Represented by Mohammed Gulani, Mr Gadaka said the appointees included members of the state executive council (SEC), heads of boards and parastatals, special advisers, focal persons, and senior special assistants, among others.

He said no fewer than 400 youths also benefitted from the governor’s foreign scholarship under the state’s Recovery Through Education and Scholarship (RETES) initiative.

The chief convener of the summit, Baba Shehu, thanked Mr Buni for appointing youths to strategic leadership positions despite resistance from the party’s old guard.

He recommended that Mr Buni’s political inclusiveness be emulated by his successor to sustain the good policies, programmes, and infrastructure development initiated by the governor.

Mr Shehu said the appointees’ sterling performance in various units of government showed that they did not betray Mr Buni’s confidence and trust reposed in them.

Abba Adam, state commissioner for basic education, described a youth as ‘anyone in between childhood and the weaknesses of ageing’, noting that youthful exuberance was indispensable to every successful government.

“All civilisations became strong with youths. Singapore’s investment in youth is responsible for its development.

“Imam Qaradawi, an Egyptian-born Islamic scholar and theologian, says development of any country depends on youth empowerment,” he said.

Mr Idris called on the appointees to reciprocate Mr Buni’s inclusivity by exhibiting total loyalty, discipline and obedience to the governor.

Bature Goniri, executive secretary, Yobe State Road Traffic Management Agency (YOROTA), said the appointees resolved to support any candidate presented by the governor for the forthcoming state and National Assembly elections.

He said the resolution became pertinent because Mr Buni’s involvement of youths in critical government agencies served as a reference point for the entire country.

(NAN)