Saturday, February 9, 2025, will remain a part of the history of Benue State, the food basket of Nigeria. It was the day Governor Hyacinth Alia unveiled the Benue State symbol and anthem. Symbols that capture the totality of the culture, history, religion, and the commonality of the various groups that make up Benue State.
It was an exciting contest before getting to that stage, with the committee set up to identify the symbols having to sift through over 119 entries of beautiful designs and anthem, each telling the Benue story.
So, when an elated Governor Hyacinth Alia unveiled the most valued entries selected by the people of Benue state themselves, his message was simple, direct and all encompassing to all sons and daughters of the state across the world: Unite, be proud of your state and contribute to its development.
Before getting to that stage, it is important to understand that for everyone that has a history, there is a pride in cherishing that identity, because it inspires, unite people for a common purpose, build self-awareness, confidence and self-esteem, foster a sense of community and belonging, and promotes inclusivity, tolerance, and social cohesion.
Whether as Tiv, Idoma, Igede and other identities that make up Benue State, the new symbol provides a common banner on which the collective interest of the state is pursued in unity and harmony for the greater good of all sons and daughters of the state. The symbol has become the source of strength, pride, and the binding cord of all, in spite of the state’s diversities.
For Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia, the two weeks through which the people united in getting acceptable symbols for the state, has signified the unity of purpose and the beautiful creativity of the people.
His words: “My appreciation goes to everyone who made entries for the state symbols. Your creativity, imagination, and enthusiasm are what made this project a success. Whether your entry was selected or not, please know that your contribution is valued and appreciated. You have helped to shape the identity of our state, and for that, we are eternally grateful. “
The governor particularly extolled all the participants, saying “whether your symbols emerged overall best or not, it shows the testament to your talent, innovation, and dedication to our state. Therefore, you have shown you are true ambassadors of Benue state, and we are proud to have you as part of our community.
“These symbols represent who we are as a people.
They reflect our values, culture, and history. It is also a reminder of our struggles and triumphs we strive towards greatness.”
However, it is important that the new symbols be backed by law. As a law-abiding citizen and leader, the governor said he would send an executive bill to the Benue State House of Assembly to make the new symbols official.
The governor used the stage for the unveiling of the symbols to give account of his stewardship in key areas, including security, infrastructure, economy, healthcare, and education. Some of the achievements include the recruitment of 9,700 new teachers to strengthen the education system and the efforts being made to resettle Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).
For the Chairman of the State Symbols Screening Committee, retired Justice Augustine Utsaha, and the Secretary, Chief Solomon Iorpev, it was gratitude all the way to the governor and people of the state for entrusting them with the assignment. Utsaha acknowledged that the search for a common identity for Benue was long overdue and said that the committee tireless screened 119 entries to arrive at the final selection. Iorpev, on the other hand, explained that the new state anthem was crafted from the contributions of five finalists to ensure that it truly represents the spirit and aspirations of Benue people.
The resonating message is quite clear. As a citizen of Benue, embrace the new symbols with pride, work collectively towards shaping a brighter future for the state, uniting to secure and develop every part, and striving to usher in bountiful prosperity and growth across the state.
– Bridget Tikyaa is the PSA to the Governor on Media, Publicity and Communications Strategy