Benue: In search of common identity 

January 23 06:49 2025 by The Ajasa News Print This Article

By Bridget Tikyaa

It is not everyday one bothers about where one comes from, but it is always a pride to identity with where one is from, his roots, the culture, the history and the milestone crossed that gives one an identity to be proud of. And just like in an individual’s life, identifying with a symbol of great importance is also significant in the life of a state like Benue with its unique cultures and traditions.

So, when Governor Hyacinth Alia inaugurated a committee to search for symbol of a common identity of the people of Benue State, it is to inspire pride, unity of purpose, build self-awareness, confidence and self-esteem, foster a sense of community and belonging, and promotes inclusivity, tolerance, and social cohesion.

The committee’s responsibility is to search for a common identity that will become the heritage of the people of Benue – those unique features and cultures that stand them out from the rest. Symbols that make Benue people unmistakable to the rest of the world, symbols that speak and reflect their culture, uniqueness, strength and potentials.

“These symbols will become our source of strength, our sense of pride and our binding cords in spite of our diversities,” Governor Alia said. Already, a lot of people have taken part in the search for the common symbol, and submitted entries from which the committee will select those that encompass what every person in Benue will feel pride to identity with anywhere in the world.

“We are for instance recognised by our tribes as Tiv, Idoma, Igede and so on, but are in spite of these known collectively as the food basket of Nigeria and soon we shall become the Agricultural Hub of Africa and in no distant time, begin to feed the world. This is what defines us, Agriculture.

“These symbols will therefore serve as essential components of our identity as a state and play a very vital role in representing our shared values, history and culture. They will give us a sense of pride and recognition and serve as the auditory and visual representation of our identity and principles,” the governor said.

This search for identity is a continuation of the government’s determination to take the state out of the woods of underdevelopment, so as to attain its full potential and record unmatched growth in all sectors.

The government has indeed significantly impacted the welfare of workers and pensioners, and is working tirelessly to develop the state’s infrastructure and build the economy especially through vibrant agricultural policies and programmes which are meant to double output in the shortest possible time.

The government is equally building a strong health system and developing the educational sector beginning with the engagement of 9,700 new teachers in the primary education sector. Security is also been tightened to guarantee the safety of lives and properties and ensure the safe return of displaced persons to their ancestral homes.

The latest being the inauguration of the Anyam Nyor and the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.

“These efforts are beginning to yield positive results which is a testament to our dedication, commitment and hand work,” Governor Alia said, excited about what the future holds for the people of Benue State.

Marrying that enthusiasm within a symbols that speaks of the identity and common heritage of the people will spur collective action, promote pride amongst the people and giving the a sense of belonging towards service and duty to the state.

“To the esteemed members of this great committee which was carefully selected based on pedigree, achievements, past contributions and the show of love for Benue state, I charge you to do everything possible to ensure that the best of the best emerge as symbols for the state.

“Remember that the flag shall be our identity, the coat of arms shall be our symbol of authority which will represent our history, values and principles and the anthem will serve as a unifying force, promoting pride amongst our people and giving us a sense of belonging as it calls us each day to service and duty.

“It goes without saying that our identity as a state, which represents our culture, history, unity and pride lies in your hands, you must therefore handle it with care and every sense of responsibility. You must ensure total honesty, sincerity and transparency of the process.”

In preparedness of the Job ahead the committee chairman, Hon. Justice Augustine Utsaha expressed profound gratitude for the honor and privilege of being entrusted with this critical assignment.

He assured that the committee would approach the task with dedication and thoroughness to ensure the selection of symbols that would resonate with the people of Benue, and further expressed confidence in the competence and commitment of the committee members, affirming that they would successfully fulfill their mandate without fail.

The Secretary of the Committee and Techical Adviser to the Governor of Media Publicity and Strategic Communication Hon Solomon Iorpev graced energetically hinted that the committee has two weeks to reduce the entries to a manageable number through a transparent process

until the winners emerge. Therefore as ambassadors of the state, members of the committee must be transparently honest, committed and focused. Their final work must uniquely show the world who we truly are as a people and what we truly represent as a state.

Bridget Tikyaa is the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Publicity and Communication Strategy