Yobe State played host to a high-level United Nations delegation on Monday, marking a historic moment of partnership and progress in Nigeria’s post-conflict recovery efforts.
The delegation, led by three UN Assistant Secretaries-General representing UNDP, IOM, and UNHCR, alongside the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed M. M. Fall, and several heads of UN agencies, described the visit as one of the largest field missions undertaken by the United Nations in recent years.
Governor Mai Mala Buni, who was represented by his deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to sustainable recovery and inclusive development.
He outlined Yobe’s achievements in transitioning from crisis to stability, citing the establishment of the State Policy Advisory Committee on Durable Solutions, the Security Planning and Coordination Group (SPCG), and the State Technical Working Group, key institutions anchoring the state’s long-term resilience agenda.
Governor Buni identified four core areas of ongoing collaboration with the UN which includes, Climate adaptation and sustainable livelihoods, digital education and skills development, universal health access and social protection and voluntary return and reintegration of refugees through cross-border coordination
“Our goal is not just to help displaced persons find a place to live, but a reason to thrive,” Buni stated, underscoring Yobe’s focus on linking humanitarian response with durable human development.
The UN delegation also commissioned the Solution Data Center at the Durable Solutions Secretariat and inspected the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, including the Maternal and Child Health Complex, a flagship of the Buni administration’s investment in inclusive healthcare.
Commending the state’s achievements, the UN team described Yobe’s model as a “true example of leadership, partnership, and progress,” pledging to advocate for greater donor support to sustain its momentum.
The mission concluded with interactive sessions between the delegation, internally displaced persons, and host communities, offering moving testimonies of resilience and recovery.
Buni reaffirmed, Yobe State will continue to stand as a national and global reference point for durable solutions, resilience financing, and sustainable development.
