Benue State Takes Bold Steps to Combat Gender-Based Violence with Grassroots Training Initiative

In a groundbreaking effort to bring social welfare services closer to the people, the Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare (MWASW), led by Honourable Commissioner Mrs. Theresa Odachi Ikwue (also known as Apochin-Ikwue), has launched an ambitious decentralization program aimed at combating Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) across all corners of the state.

The initiative, flagged off on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, and concluded on Friday, December 13, 2025, began with an intensive three-day training in Makurdi for 46 participants—two representatives from each of the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs). These newly trained LGA leads are now tasked with cascading the knowledge to 552 Council Ward Coordinators in the next phase, creating a robust network of protection and response at the grassroots level.

Speaking on the significance of the program, Commissioner Ikwue declared that the ministry is moving beyond the confines of its Makurdi headquarters. “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,” she said earlier on December 8, 2025. “By training and empowering these 46 LGA leads, we are planting seeds of protection and justice in every local government.”

The training covered critical areas including the prevention of Female Genital Mutilation, relevant legal frameworks, survivor-centered approaches, and strategies to tackle Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Participants received hotel accommodation throughout the program, underscoring the government’s commitment to ensuring focused and effective learning.

This effort aligns seamlessly with Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia’s vision of inclusive governance, social justice, and the protection of the dignity and rights of all Benue citizens, particularly the most vulnerable. The program is strengthened by strategic partnerships with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Benue State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BERWASA), providing essential support for broader implementation.

Commissioner Ikwue affirmed that Benue is taking a definitive leadership position in the fight against SGBV, FGM, and related crimes against humanity. By delivering services directly to citizens’ doorsteps, regardless of how remote their communities may be, the Alia administration is institutionalizing hope, justice, and tangible safety for women and children across the state.

As the trained officers become “pillars” responsible for equipping ward-level coordinators, this tiered approach promises to build a vigilant, proactive, and responsive network that could serve as a model for social welfare delivery nationwide. The people of Benue now have reason to believe that help and protection are no longer distant but embedded within their own communities.