The Yobe State Government, under Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration since 2019, has employed 3,196 youths in various sectors of the state’s civil service. The employees hold degrees, diplomas, and National Certificates of Education (NCE). Alhaji Barma Shettima, the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, stated that the recruitment aimed to empower youths and reduce redundancy, crime, and social vices.
The employed youths include doctors, pharmacists, midwives, nurses, and laboratory technicians. Additionally, the governor appointed young individuals as chief executives in key government establishments like the Yobe Scholarship Board and the Yobe Information Technology Development Agency. Youths have also been trained in trades such as cosmetology, modern crop cultivation, and animal production to foster meaningful engagement and state development.
The administration also achieved the domestication of the Child Rights Protection Act, with efforts to train stakeholders and sensitize the public about the law. Furthermore, Yobe is set to host the 2024 North East Zonal Sports Festival, and local traditional sports like wrestling and ‘langa’ are being promoted among the youth. Plans are underway to upgrade several stadia, including the August 27 Stadium in Damaturu, to international standards.