Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue state has unveiled the state's new anthem and Coat of Arms which he says reflects the collective identity, values, and heritage of the Benue people.
Performing the unveiling in Makurdi, the Governor noted that the state symbols, which were chosen through a rigorous and transparent process, "are a reflection of our collective identity and values."
The commended the committee set up to undertake the exercise of selecting the symbols and anthem from entries submitted by the people of the state empathising that "as your governor, I am honored to accept the outcome of this process and to express my deepest gratitude to the committee that worked tirelessly to ensure that the symbols truly represent the spirit of Benue state.
"I therefore urge you all to embrace the state symbols with pride and enthusiasm. Let us use them to promote our state's identity and culture, and to inspire others to do the same. Let us wear them on our sleeves, literally and figuratively, and let us show the world what it means to be a true Benue state citizen.
"The state symbols are a gift to our state and to our people. They are a reminder of our collective identity and values, and they inspire us to strive for greatness. They are a symbol of our unity and our diversity, and they remind us that we are stronger together than we are apart.
"They remind us that we have a rich cultural heritage, and that we have a responsibility to preserve it for future generations. The symbols are a beacon of hope for the future."
While reaffirming his commitment to making the difference in the lives of the people, the Governor noted that "the Benue state of our dream is a state where every citizen has access to quality education, quality healthcare, and economic opportunities.
"As a government we are determined to face our responsibility of ensuring that the state is taken out of the woods of underdevelopment to its full potentials and that's why we have stepped on full throttle to ensure the State grows in all sectors.
"Apart from ensuring the welfare of workers and pensioners in the state, we are working tirelessly to develop the state’s infrastructure and build the economy especially through our agricultural policies and programs which are meant to double our output in the shortest possible time.
"We are building a strong health system and developing our educational sector as fast as possible beginning with our engagement of 9,700 new teachers in the primary education sector and the building of storey buildings in every government owned primary school across the state.
"Security is also been tightened to guarantee the safety of lives and property and ensure the safe return of the IDPs back to their homes. We recently launched a joint State Joint Task Force Anyam Nyor and inaugurated Benue State Civil Protection Guards. These efforts are beginning to yield positive results which is a testament to our commitment and hard work.
"We have also launched the Benue State Action Plan for Durable which is guaranteed five year plan that will ensure the quick, safe and permanent return of IDPs to their ancestral lands."
Earlier, Chairman of the State Symbols Screening Committee, retired Justice Augustine Utsaha who lauded the Governor’s leadership strides disclosed that the search for a common identity for Benue had been long overdue and commended the committee’s tireless efforts in screening 119 entries to arrive at the final five from which one was picked by the people.
Secretary of the Committee and Technical Adviser to the Governor, Chief Solomon Iorpev explained that the new Benue anthem which he described as "a hybrid" after having been crafted from the contributions of five finalists represented spirit and aspirations of the people.
No comments:
Post a Comment