By John Ogunsemore
The Governor of Benue State, Rev.Fr. Hyacinth Alia has appointed new heads for five agencies and parastatals in the state.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Tersoo Kula disclosed this in a Thursday statement.
The governor appointed Prof. Daniel Amine as Director General of the Benue Geographical Information System (BENGIS), Mrs. Afaityo Rebecca as General Manager of the Community and Social Development Agency, Mr. Michael Uper as Executive Secretary of the Benue State Sports Marketing and Lottery Board, and Dr. Erdoo Mongol as Managing Director/CEO of the Benue State Geo-Mining Company Nigeria Limited.
Alia also appointed Surveyor Tsokar Terfa as Technical Advisor to the Governor on Land matters.
According to the statement, the new BENGIS boss, Amine holds a B.Tech, M.Eng, and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and has worked in various sectors of the economy, including banking and construction. He is currently a lecturer at Joseph Sawuan Takar University in Makurdi and has over 20 years of experience in technical and engineering graphics.
Afaityo holds a M.Sc. and an MBA in Management and has extensive experience in community development. She has served as a Village Extension Officer and has worked as Chairperson of the Initiatives for Empowerment of Vulnerable Persons in Society (IEVPS), among many other projects.
Uper is well-versed in sports marketing, having worked as a consultant in Niger and Lagos States. Before this appointment, he was a consultant for the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Creativity in Benue State.
Mongol is a seasoned geoscientist with over 14 years of experience in mining, mineral exploration, regulation, and climate sciences. She is committed to adding value to critical mineral extraction through sustainable and innovative approaches that support a green environment. She is hardworking, analytical, and passionate about efficient resource management, environmental sustainability, youth empowerment, and education for underserved communities.
Terfa is a seasoned lands administrator who has served as the Surveyor General of Benue state from 2021-2023.
Meanwhile, the governor also approved the separation of solid minerals department from the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, and upgraded it to a Bureau for Solid Minerals.
“Consequently, Mr. Stephen Utah, who hitherto was Principal Special Assistant (PSA) to the Governor on Solid Minerals, is to serve as Executive Secretary at the new the Bureau.
“The governor believes the appointees will bring their wealth of experience, skills and their recognised competences to their new roles in adding value to the development of the state in their respective sectors of responsibility.
“The governor further emphasised the importance of upholding the ideals of the administration, urging them to prioritise the interests of Benue State in all their official engagements, as encapsulated in the administration’s vision and mission,” the statement further reads.