*Donates cattle, other items
By; ARCHIBONG ESUENE, Makurdi
Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia of Benue State has visited orphanage homes across the state as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary Celebration.
The exercise which began Friday, September 27, 2024 was coordinated by the Bureau for Internal Affairs and Special Services, office of the Governor.
The Governor visited NKST Orphanage Home, Mkar, TIVID Orphanage Home International, Makurdi, Gidan Bege Makurdi, Children of Mary Orphanage, Otukpo, and Benue State Rehabilitation School, Apir.
In each of the orphanage home, visited, Governor Alia donated
bags of rice, noodles, biscuits soaps, sanitary pads, disinfectant, detergents, toiletries, a cow and some cash to cater for the food need of the vulnerable children in those places, especially on Independence Day.
Speaking through his Special Advisor on Women Affairs, Hon. Scholastica Ben-sor to the staff and children of NKST Orphanage Home, Mkar, Gboko Local Government Area, Governor Alia said the gesture was part of his administration’s resolve to provide hope for orphans and vulnerable children.
Also, the covering Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Internal Affairs and Special Services, Paul A. Oko thanked the founders and directors of orphanage homes in Benue State for providing good parental care to orphans and vulnerable children within and around the state.
He advised the children and their caregivers to continue to believe in God and keep hoping for a better and prosperous future, adding that Governor Alia will continue to provide financial and logistics assistance to meet their basic needs.
In their separate responses, Rev Timothy Terlanga Nongu of NKST Orphanage, Mkar, Favour Ada of
Tivid Orphanage Home, Makurdi, Rev. John Mai of GIDAN BEGE Orphanage, Makurdi, Rosemary Oganyi of Children of Mary Orphanage, Otukpo, and Alexander Mbakindev of Benue State Rehabilitation Board, all thanked Governor Alia for the visit.
They highlighted lack of proper accommodations, feeding, and mobility as some of the challenges they were facing, they collectively called on the State Government for assistance.
In a separate development, the Accountant, Bureau of Internal Affairs and Special Services, Mr Jonathan Ayantse reminded the caregivers and children of voting age that council elections were by the corner and that they should all go out on that day and exercise their civil responsibility of voting candidates of their choices to head their local government areas.
