Hyacinth Alia has said that without the support of the great women of Benue State, he would not have become the governor.
He said this at a programme on Saturday organised by the National Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress.
The programme, flagged off at the IBB Square in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, was tagged: “774 Explode, Enhancing Gender Space in Politics.”
Governor Alia thanked President Bola Tinubu for being “very” instrumental to what he has achieved in the state, and the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her love for Benue State.
He said their programmes for the women and the entire people of the state have made so much difference, making things easier for the government and its people.
Alia, who equally appreciated Benue women for their continued support for his administration, insisted that without them, he wouldn’t have won the 2023 governorship election.
He said: “I thank the great women of Benue State so much because if you were not there for me, I wouldn’t be standing here as the governor of Benue State.
“I appreciate every one of you.”
He said although the state has no first lady due to his calling as a Reverend Father, all the great women of Benue are the first ladies of the state and, as such, there is no vacuum at all, especially as the women are ably led by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Christie Sam-Ode.
Alia charged Benue women to key in and take advantage of the many programmes rolled out for the women folks, both from the state and the federal government.
He listed them to include ICT training programme, fertilizer initiative for female farmers, Renewed Hope Agenda for women, and a fashion hub, which will soon be commissioned, amongst others.
He also urged the women in the state to demonstrate courage by coming out to contest in future elections, assuring that his government will create an enabling environment for them to succeed.
While charging all the 23 pioneer beneficiaries of the 774 Explode programme in Benue State to ensure they excel and make the state proud, the governor made a donation of N500,000 to each of them, urging them to also choose a skill of their preference so that the government will sponsor them.
Earlier in her address, the National Woman leader of the APC, Dr. Mary Idele Alile, appreciated Governor Alia for his efforts at advancing gender equality in the state through his appointments and support for women programmes.
Alile said the Benue State Government was the first to fund the 774 Explode programme amongst all the APC-led states, and, as such, deserves all the accolades.
She added that the governor’s efforts transcends Benue State.
She equally commended the President Tinubu for involving women in his administration; the first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her pet projects for women such as the Renewed Hope initiative; as well as the National Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, for his steadfast leadership, which, she said, has led to many decamping into the party.
She said the project 774 Explode will provide young women with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the political landscape of the country, adding that mentorship will be given to them as they strive to become great politicians, calling for more support and empowerment for the women to increase their number in the governance of the country.
Also speaking, the acting Chairman of the APC in Benue State, Hon. Benjamin Omakolo, said the state has never had it good as it is today under Governor Alia.
Omakolo said the governor has demonstrated unflinching love for the State, assuring him that the party would continue to stand solidly behind the governor as its leader.
He appreciated the First lady, APC Chairman and National Woman Leader for staging the programme in the State, adding that it will propel Benue women to greater heights.
Also in their separate goodwill messages, the chairman of the occasion and former member representing Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency, Hon. Nelson Alapa; Chairlady of the occasion and wife of the Deputy Governor of the state, Christie Sam-Ode; former member representing Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency, Hon. Dorothy Mato; wife of the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Cynthia Dajoh; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ann Itodo; Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Scholastica Ben Sor; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Township Beautification, Hon. Linda Agada, all appreciated the governor for demonstrating love for the great women of the state, thanking the Woman Leader for the flag-off of the programme in the state.
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They assured her of their continued support for the party, saying Benue APC remains united under the leadership of Governor Alia.
During the launch of the programme, 23 young women of Benue State origin were inaugurated as the pioneer beneficiaries in the state.
It aims to develop them so they can participate fully in the politics and governance of Nigeria.
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