PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Benue State Government, UNICEF, and BERWASA Partner to Decentralise Social Welfare Services, Combat Gender-Based Violence in All 276 Council Wards
Makurdi, Benue State
In a landmark move to institutionalise grassroots social protection, the Benue State Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare (MWASW), has embarked on a transformative initiative to take critical social welfare services from its headquarters in Makurdi directly to the doorsteps of citizens across all 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 276 council wards of the state.
The Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. (Mrs.) Theresa Odachi Ikwue, announced this today, stating that the initiative is being implemented in conjunction with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and with the support of the Benue State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BERWASA). This strategic partnership underscores a shared commitment to safeguarding vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.
The first phase of this ambitious rollout commences with an intensive 3-Day training workshop scheduled for Wednesday 10th to Friday 13th December, 2025, in Makurdi. The training will equip 46 lead Social Workers and Child Protection Officers (two from each LGA) with advanced skills in case management, psychosocial support, and community mobilisation specifically targeted at preventing and responding to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
Hon. Commissioner Ikwue emphasised the programme’s significance: “This is not just a training; it is a strategic deployment. Our goal is to dismantle the notion that the Ministry exists only within the walls of a building in Makurdi. By training and empowering these 46 LGA leads, we are planting seeds of protection and justice in every local government. These officers will become our pillars, ensuring that no victim of violence in the remotest part of Benue is left without help, guidance, or hope.”
Following their training, these 46 officers will immediately commence a cascaded “step-down” training programme to build the capacity of 552 Council Ward Coordinators. This second layer of community-based personnel will establish a proactive, vigilant, and responsive network across all 276 wards, effectively creating a protective shield against SGBV and other harmful practices at the grassroots level.
“Benue State is taking a definitive leadership position in the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and all related crimes against humanity,” the Commissioner added. “This structured, ward-based approach ensures that our policies and declarations translate into tangible action and safety for every woman and child in the state.”
The comprehensive training, which includes hotel accommodation for all participants at a designated hotel in Makurdi, covers vital areas such as the prevention of FGM, legal frameworks, survivor-centred approaches, and data management for SGBV cases.
This initiative marks a pivotal step in Governor Hyacinth Alia’s administration’s commitment to inclusive governance, social justice, and the protection of the dignity and rights of all Benue citizens, especially the most vulnerable.
The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare is the primary state institution mandated to promote the welfare, empowerment, and rights of women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. It formulates and implements policies and programmes aimed at social development, protection, and equality for all in Benue State.
Comr. Paul Akunda
Data Management Officer,
Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare