In celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child on October 11, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has made a resounding commitment to improving the lives of girls in the state. He has vowed to protect them and other vulnerable individuals, while providing them with opportunities and a brighter future.
During the commemorative event held in Makurdi, Governor Alia expressed his administration’s dedication to empowering the girl child. He highlighted the importance of collaboration with international agencies and announced his plans to bring out-of-school children back into the education system by the end of October.
“As we celebrate the International Day of the Girl Child, I want to emphasize my government’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights of the girl child. We aim to create an enabling environment for them to flourish and achieve their full potential,” Governor Alia stated.
In a symbolic gesture, Governor Alia temporarily relinquished his office to 14-year-old Miss Rita, an SS 3 student from Anglican Secondary School, Makurdi, as part of the event.
During the event, Miss Rita engaged with the Benue Children Parliament, answering questions posed by the Commissioner of Education, Rev Frederick Ikyaan, and the Commissioner of Women Affairs, Mrs Ann Itodo. She highlighted Benue’s pressing issue of numerous out-of-school children, primarily resulting from prolonged stays in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.
