Gov Alia rallies stakeholders for stronger Multi-Sectoral Coordination in Benue 

From Attah Ede, Makurdi 

The Benue State governor, Hyacinth Alia, has reaffirmed his administration’s firm commitment to strengthening multi-sectoral coordination as a core strategy to improve service delivery, optimize resources, and ensure that all interventions meet the real needs of the people.

He stated this during a high-level meeting of the State’s  Multi-Sector Coordination Platform, convened by the Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD) at the BICD held at Government House, Makurdi.

The meeting was with the theme “Strengthening the Benue State Multi-Sector Coordination Platform for Sustainable Impact.”

The Governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Moses Atagher, declared the meeting open.

He maintained that the  current administration’s vision is to institutionalized government-led coordination as the standard for all partnerships in the state. 

The governor commended the BICD, under the leadership of Aondoaseer Leonard-Angelo Viashima, for its central role in aligning multi-sectoral interventions with the state’s priorities and fostering meaningful engagement between government and partners.

He assured all stakeholders of his administration’s continued political leadership over the coordination process, its dedication to state ownership of partnerships, and its resolve to create an enabling environment for multi-sectoral action that delivers lasting benefits to communities across Benue State.

Also speaking, the Secretary to the State Government,  Deaconess Aber, emphasized the Governor’s directive for ministries, departments, agencies, and partners to work within the state-led coordination platform to achieve unity of purpose, avoid duplication, and ensure measurable results.

The SSG who was represented by Mr. James Azande, Senior Special Assistant on Media in the Cabinet Office, appealed to the participants to take advantage of the meeting to strengthening partnership in the State.

The day’s programme featured detailed updates from the BICD Technical Team on ongoing coordination efforts, partner registration compliance, and sector cluster designations, followed by a presentation from the Nigerian INGO Forum on gap mapping and opportunities for improved collaboration.

A major highlight was the roundtable session, where MDAs and UN agencies presented their mid-year achievements, sharing updates on projects funded through grants, donations, and development programmes. 

These ranged from infrastructure upgrades, healthcare delivery, and educational initiatives to agriculture support, peacebuilding actions, and renewable energy deployment. 

Each presentation was followed by constructive reviews and feedback aimed at improving the impact, reach, and sustainability of interventions for the benefit of the people of Benue.

The interactive Q&A session generated practical ideas for overcoming coordination challenges and reinforced the shared commitment to transparency, accountability, and delivering measurable results.

The meeting concluded with clear next steps, including operationalizing sector working groups, launching enhanced coordination tools, and convening a joint review session in the fourth quarter of 2025.