Benue Govt to Pay Counterpart Funding for Nigeria Women Project, Sponsor Pilgrims To Holy Lands

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Benue State Executive Council, chaired by the Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has approved the counterpart funding of N450,000,000 for the Nigeria Women Project.

A statement signed by the Technical Adviser to the Benue State Governor on Media, Publicity, and Strategic Communication, Chief Solomon Iorpev said the World Bank project, sourced by the Benue state government, aims to empower Benue women through small and medium businesses, alleviating their poverty and promoting economic growth.

The state government’s contribution will leverage additional funding from the World Bank to implement the project.

The Executive Council also approved the sponsorship of 81 pilgrims to Mecca this year, with similar support for Christian pilgrims when the time comes for Jerusalem Pilgrimage.

The initiative marks a new era of pilgrimage sponsorship in Benue State, a practice previously neglected by past administrations, re-initiated by the Alia led government.

The council also approved the executive order of the Governor Hyacinth Alia, renaming the Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation to Dan Agbese Printing and Publishing Corporation, honouring the late Dan Agbese’s contributions to Nigeria’s media landscape.

The council praised Dan Agbese’s achievements, and urged young people to emulate his dedication and learn that hard work pays.