Women urge Gov Alia to appoint first lady for Benue women

By Henry Ibya, Makurdi

Benue State Governor Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia has been urged to expedite action by declaring public a woman to serve as first lady of the state to avoid a situation where opportunities both national and international have eluded women of the state within the nine months he has operated as governor.

Making a presentation at a media roundtable to mark this year’s International Women’s Day celebration organized by APIN Public Health Initiative in collaboration with the Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs on the theme Inspiring Inclusion, held in Makurdi, Executive Director, Mimidoo Initiative for Empowerment and Development, Dooshima Ageh, said such a woman would stand for Benue women on issues concerning women.

She recalled with satisfaction that during tenure of former Benue State governor,  Reverend Father Moses Adasu, his deputy’s wife, Mrs Agada was the first lady, arguing that Governor Alia could do the same thing by declaring Mrs Ode as first lady of the state for Benue women to have a voice, as according to her the women were already missing out from programmes of women at both national and international.

In another presentation Lucia Torjir of APIN Public Health Initiative, lamented that different governments through policies and statements such as the 35 percent affirmative action have remained mere pronouncements, arguing that a review of the policies has brought most policies at implementation to zero level.

She argued that even when women are included in government businesses or policies, they are given positions that makes no sense such as welfare officers or offices that make them look like figure heads, appealing that women should be given active positions in all sectors since they are capable.

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