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In a heartwarming initiative aimed at empowering retirees and revitalizing agriculture, Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has distributed palm tree seedlings to members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) in the state. The event, which took place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at the Benue Alia Palm Project Nursery, brought together pensioners from across Benue, many of whom expressed profound gratitude for the governor’s thoughtful gesture to improve their livelihoods.
Governor Alia described the distribution as a key component of his administration’s broader strategy for economic diversification, poverty alleviation, and ensuring that senior citizens remain active contributors to society. By providing these seedlings, the government seeks to encourage retirees to engage in productive farming, turning what could be idle post-retirement years into opportunities for income generation and community development.
Speaking through his Adviser on International Investment, Hon. Addingi Alex, and the General Manager of the Alia Palm Project, Mr. Ayua Israel, the governor highlighted the immense potential of palm cultivation. They emphasized how oil palm farming could create sustainable revenue streams, expand agro-based industries, and strengthen Benue’s rural economy. The seedlings, they urged, should be seen not merely as gifts but as long-term investments for the pensioners, their families, and future generations.
The Chairman of the NUP Benue State Chapter, Comrade Michael Tengu Vembe, praised the move as “the first of its kind,” commending Governor Alia for prioritizing pensioners in his agricultural transformation agenda. He assured the administration of the union’s full support and pledged that the seedlings would be nurtured diligently to yield positive results.
This program aligns with Governor Alia’s overarching agricultural vision, which focuses on uplifting vulnerable groups while stimulating economic activities in rural areas. As Benue continues to position itself as a hub for palm production, initiatives like this not only honor the contributions of elders but also plant the seeds—literally—for a more prosperous and self-reliant state.
