By Terdue Atondu, Markudi
The Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has assured the people of Oju/Obi Federal Constituency that his administration will upgrade the College of Education, Oju, to a global standard.
The governor said the upgrade would also create room for the recruitment of more teachers and expand educational opportunities for young people in the area.
Alia gave the assurance while addressing stakeholders and residents of Oju/Obi Federal Constituency at the College of Education, Oju, during his town hall meeting as part of his ongoing thank-you tour of the 11 federal constituencies in the state.
Describing the institution as one of the oldest schools in Benue, the governor said his administration would constitute a team to explore ways of upgrading its facilities and improving its academic capacity.
He said the development of the institution was part of his administration’s broader commitment to strengthening the education sector and securing a better future for children in the state.
According to him, the government had already recruited 9,700 primary school teachers under the first phase of its teacher recruitment programme.
Alia disclosed that the second phase would focus on recruiting more specialised teachers for primary and secondary schools, urging qualified teachers across the state to prepare for the exercise.
The governor also assured the people of Oju/Obi Federal Constituency that his administration would intensify efforts to tackle insecurity and create a safe environment for farmers to return to their farms.
He sympathised with communities affected by insecurity and commended residents for their resilience and mutual support despite the challenges.
Alia stressed that security was a collective responsibility, adding that his administration would continue to work with the Federal Government and security agencies to protect lives and property.
He disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved the establishment of the Fifth Division of the Nigerian Army in Benue as part of measures to strengthen security across the state.
He said the division’s headquarters would be located in Makurdi, with additional brigades and units to be established at strategic locations across the state.
The governor further disclosed that a military unit would be established at Bonta in Konshisha Local Government Area, which shares a boundary with Oju, to strengthen security in the area.
Alia linked security to food production, stressing that farmers must be able to access their farms without fear.
“Remember, we are farmers, and we go to our farm, and we make a very good economy, and then support the nation. We are the food basket of the nation. We don’t want any food insecurity. We don’t want us to go hungry, and we don’t want our nation to go hungry either,” he said.
Alia Highlights Industrialisation Efforts
On employment generation, the governor said his administration had continued to promote industrialisation as a means of creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
He said several companies had been established in the state within the last three years, including fruit-processing companies producing orange, tomato and mango concentrates, as well as a nail manufacturing factory.
He added that existing enterprises, including bread and water factories, were also contributing to the state’s economic development.
The governor assured workers and pensioners that his administration would continue to meet its salary and pension obligations, stressing that government would not deliberately accumulate salary or pension arrears.
Addressing concerns over ranching, Alia declared that his administration would not provide land for ranching in Benue State.
“Let me be very clear. For those who are saying that the state government is going to give land for ranching and for cows to be running everywhere in the state, it is not during my administration,” he said.
The governor said he had adopted the position of the people on the matter, adding: “So as you say, no ranching, I am also adopting now that there is no ranching.”
Former Suswam, Assembly Member Commend Alia
Former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, described Alia as a politician who remained connected to the people.
Suswam said the governor’s regular engagements with communities demonstrated his willingness to listen to their concerns and respond to their needs.
Also speaking, the Majority Whip of the Benue State House of Assembly and member representing Oju II, Hon. Cyril Ikong, commended Alia for what he described as his positive gestures towards the Igede people.
Ikong said the governor had, for the first time in the history of Benue State, appointed an Igede person to a position, although he did not specify the position.
He pledged the support of the people for the governor, promising “100 per cent votes” in return for his administration’s gestures.
The event also featured the conferment of the traditional chieftaincy title Ogakwu of Igede land, meaning “Generous Man,” on Governor Alia by the Igede traditional institution.
Alia, who stressed that the gathering was a town hall meeting and not a campaign event, thanked the people of Igede for their continued support.
He called for unity among the people, stressing that what united them was greater than anything that could divide them
