Governor Alia empowers Benue women with “Project 774 Explode”

From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi

Benue State Governor Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has called on Benue women to take advantage of the Renewed Hope Initiative brought by the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and improve their lives, their families, and enhance their political participation.

The Governor made this call on Saturday at IBB Square, Makurdi, during the launch of a women’s empowerment initiative tagged “Project 774 Explode, Enhancing Gender Space in Politics”, put together by the office of the Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Mary Idele Alile.

Alia, who noted that he would not have become the governor of Benue State without the support of the women of Benue State, assured that his administration will continue to promote gender-sensitive reforms that will facilitate women’s direct engagement in decision-making in the state.

He appreciated the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her continued support of Nigerian women, pointing out the 50 Benue citizens who are on scholarship, food palliatives, and many other forms of assistance she has so far given to Benue State through her Renewed Hope Initiative.

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The Governor also expressed gratitude to the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu, and the National Woman Leader of the APC, Mary Alile, for choosing Benue State out of the states of the federation to be not only the flag bearer of the project but a suitable destination to launch the 774 Explode Project.

Governor Alia, while pledging that Benue women will continue to key into the policies and ideologies of President Tinubu’s administration, also joined the National Woman Leader of the APC to call on Benue women to contest for political positions in the next elections.

“Me, I follow the person wey sabi road and Benue’s women will continue to follow the First Lady.

“If women didn’t vote for President Bola Tinubu and me, we wouldn’t have won this election. We want you to come out so that you can also be voted into government.

“So be courageous enough to come out and vie for elections. You have my support,” he encouraged.

He inaugurated the pioneer beneficiaries of the programme and offered the 23 selected women, one for each Local Government Area (LGA), free skills acquisition training in any field of their choice and promised to give each a grant of N500,000 to start a business.

Earlier, the APC National Woman Leader, Dr Mary Idele Alile, acknowledged the visionary leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia, describing him as a champion of transformation.

She outlined the benefits of 774 Explode to women in Nigeria, thanking Governor Alia for being the first APC Governor to fund the project and Benue women for turning out en masse to embrace the programme.

She said the project 774 Explode will provide the 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 Benue State and Benue women have never had it so good as it is under Governor Alia, assuring that the party would continue to support his success.

Omakolo appreciated the First Lady, Mrs Tinubu, the APC Chairman and the National Women Leader, for staging the programme in the State, saying it will propel Benue women to greater heights.

Also, in their separate 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, Mrs Christie Sam-Ode; wife of the Speaker of the Benue Assembly, Mrs Cynthia Dajoh; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Ann Itodo; Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affairs, Mrs Scholastica Ben Sor, among others, hailed the Governor for his love for Benue women and also appreciated the women leader for launching the programme in the state, pledging to key into it.

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