Mai Buni was born on November 19, 1967 in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government area of Yobe state, North east Nigeria. He started learning memorization of the Quran at an early age under the tutelage of his parents and other clerics before his enrolment into Buni Gari central primary school where he obtained the First School Leaving Certificate in 1979. After completing his primary education, Buni gained admission into Government Secondary School Goniri in 1979 and obtained the West African Examination Council Certificate in 1985. He was elected governor during the 2019 Nigeria general elections under the All Progressive Congress (APC) party