Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has described women as the cradle of life and society, calling on all stakeholders to ensure educating the girl child, as it is the most powerful weapon against oppression and relegation.
He stated this on Saturday on the occasion of this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration.
He described the contributions of women as vital, stating that without women, communities would weaken, the economy would suffer and families would forever be searching for a direction.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, who stressed the key roles played by Benue women in the areas of farming, trade, lawmaking, teaching, policymaking, as physicians and nurses, etc., called on the male folks never to look down on the women.
“Here in Benue, our women are not just mothers in the genuine sense of the world; they are farmers, traders, lawmakers, teachers, specialists, and policymakers. Without their contributions, our economy would stall, our communities would weaken, and our families would forever be searching for a direction.”
He described this year’s theme of the celebration, which is “Advance Action,” as timely, urging all stakeholders to speed up actions aimed at achieving gender equality, addressing the slow pace of progress among women, thereby empowering them and the girl child.
“Despite their invaluable role, very many women still struggle in the regressive waters of inequality. Some are denied education, they force others into early marriage, and overly many still bear the weight of harmful cultural practices. We must therefore speed up action to change this narrative”, the governor explained.
The Governor described his administration as one that is favourable to women, considering the number of women appointees who are not just participants but decision-makers in governance.
According to the Governor, priority has been handed out to empowerment programs for women in the 2025 budget of the State, revealing that grants and soft loans will be offered to the women through their cooperative groups, to kick-start trade, agriculture, petty businesses, and several other ventures capable of improving their per person income and self-reliance.
While calling on all to raise their voices for the women who cannot speak and to help push aside barriers that hold women down, the Governor emphasized the need to invest in the education, empowerment, and uplifting of women, insisting that every child, regardless of gender or background, should have access to quality education.
“This is not just a moral duty; it is an investment in a brighter and more prosperous future,” the governor stated.
