The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has called for the development of a comprehensive 30-year development plan for Benue State towards ensuring continuity sustainability, growth, and long-term prosperity that will outlive successive administrations.
Governor Alia made the call on Thursday, during a symposium organized as part of activities marking the Golden Jubilee celebration of Benue State at the Rev. Fr. Alia Ultra-Modern Conference Hall, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) Headquarters, Makurdi.
Speaking shortly after the unveiling of the book: Benue @ 50: A Journey of Resilience, Progress and Prospects, Governor Alia commended the Central Planning Committee (CPC) and contributors to the publication for documenting the state’s history and development journey over the last fifty years.
Describing the book as a landmark reference that captures Benue’s narrative and provides direction for the future, Governor Alia stressed the need for Benue people to embrace their history, learn from past challenges, and deliberately chart a new course for development.
According to the Governor, sustainable progress must extend beyond infrastructural development to include leadership selection, civic participation, education, and collective responsibility.
He urged stakeholders, political leaders, intellectuals, and members of the public to work together in formulating a 30-year development blueprint that would transcend political parties and administrations by harmonising the various development blueprints produced by past and present governments
into a single state development framework with clear timelines and measurable goals to guide successive leaders.
He further called on the people to become active participants in governance through constructive criticism, research, public engagement, and knowledge-sharing as according to him, Benue’s future depends on the collective efforts of its citizens.
Governor Alia further urged academics, professionals, media practitioners, and community leaders to contribute ideas that would help reposition the state.
Speaking, former Governor of Benue State, Sen. Gabriel Suswam who was Chairman of the occasion, , described the event as the most important aspect of the Golden Jubilee celebration, saying it provided an opportunity for experts to examine Benue’s history, achievements, challenges, and prospects.
Commending Governor Alia for laying foundations that future administrations could build upon, Sen Suswam urged participants, especially young people, to pay attention to the lessons from the state’s journey.
Earlier in his address of welcome, Chairman of the Symposium Sub-Committee, Rev. Fr. Tageza Akpagher, said the event was designed to foster honest and scholarly reflections on Benue’s past, present, and future, noting that the it would help generate ideas for a more united, prosperous, and development-driven Benue State.
Four papers were presented during the symposium by Professors Patrick Ukase, John Agaba, Member George-Genyi, and Chris Orngu.
The event also featured the official unveiling and presentation of the commemorative book, “Benue @ 50: A Journey of Resilience, Progress and Prospects,” which chronicles the state’s history and aspirations as it looks toward the next fifty years of development.
