Buni Wife Declares Youths Nigeria’s Greatest Treasure

First Lady of Yobe State, Hajiya Hafsat Kollere-Buni, has described Nigerian youths as the nation’s “greatest treasure” and urged them to embrace purposeful living rooted in Islamic values.

She stated this at the Light of Guidance Youth Conference 2025 held in Abuja yesterday.

The Light of Guidance Foundation organised the event in partnership with the Ma’aruf Foundation.

The conference themed, “Our Youth, Our Future:Living a Life of Purpose Using the Divine Light of Guidance”, brought together religious scholars, academics, and community leaders to address challenges facing young people.

Buni said the future of Nigeria depends on how its youth are guided today.

“Every society rises or falls on the shoulders of its youth.

“If we guide them with the light of Islam, they will carry our communities forward with honour and dignity. But if we neglect them, we risk losing not only their future but ours as well.”

She called on young people to see themselves as future leaders, innovators, and nation builders.

“As a mother, I see in each of you the potential to be leaders, scholars and change-makers.

“That is why we are here today—to remind you of your value and to empower you to walk the path of purpose,” she added.

Also speaking, executive director of the Light of Guidance Foundation, Mohamed Khamis Ahmed, said the gathering was designed to address issues of aimlessness among young people.

“Many youths today live without direction. We want to encourage them to live with meaning, because the future of our society rests on their shoulders,” he said.

The national president of Islamic Media Nigeria, Ali Rashid Makarfi, also stressed the need for values-based leadership.

“Youths of today are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said. “Without good leaders, the country cannot function well.”

Ahmed Adamu, an associate professor of Economics at Nile University, warned that technology and social media have created serious distractions for young people.

“In this destructive era, true success has been reduced to material wealth and fame.

“But that does not bring happiness or contentment.

Parents must take responsibility to provide Islamic knowledge, not just modern education.”

He urged families not to hand over gadgets to children without proper guidance, warning that social media can expose them to “toxic influences” that harm their future.