By Samuel Adzegeh Need for positive change in Benue An academic of international repute, Shija regrets that the quality of education available to Benue's teeming youth is defective. He asserts that, "The quality of education itself is questionable as it is oriented towards consumption and not towards production." He exhorts people of the State, saying, "We have a duty to work assiduously to rescue our State from its chains of mediocrity so that the Benue environment booms again with productivity and excellence", and points out, "The task ahead may be very costly and uncomfortable for many because they will be knocked off from their comfort zones of clannishness and mediocrity, but that appears to be the last option now." Shija emphatically asserts that, "We cannot continue wallowing in poverty when we are so blessed with natural resources." The erudite incoming governor insists that the task ahead of Benue people is to "rebuild our State and reclaim its lost dream by deliberately adopting courageous and responsible strategies to accomplish difficult tasks, adding that, "We must reclaim our prosperity by fighting poverty and unemployment, securing justice and opportunity and creating a compassionate society in which our people's entitlements, debts, salaries and pensions are paid promptly. "We also need to provide world class infrastructure and modernize existing ones. Our agriculture must be boosted optimally and our solid minerals fully exploited using the advantage of latest technology and best global practices while our wealth should be deployed more to production than to consumption. With the audacity of a born optimist and visionary Shija enthuses, "This is the age of material wealth production", he asserts without equivocation. "Every nation needs it; every state needs it; every individual needs it. We must escape from poverty and acquire wealth and employment as well as fashion a befitting environment for comfortable living and progress for our people. "We must embrace modernity, build wider, paved roads, stock our hospitals with latest equipment and drugs, provide good classrooms and instructional materials for our schools at all levels. We must also improve our transportation system - road, water, rail and air. "If we think about infrastructure, we certainly cannot disregard its twin cousin the superstructure, which is the abstract philosophy about our lives as Benue people - our belief in God, our morality, our respect for elders, our intellect as well as culture and traditions. "Civilization is not only about good roads, cars, aeroplanes, good houses, clothes and so on. It also embodies the philosophy of the people: their religion, their culture, their ethics, their education, their values, their passion, all of which must be properly reformed to guide our choices of good governance. "We must reclaim the lost leadership style based on merit, honour and integrity. Our task will be to persuade our people by example to lead honest lives and embark on legitimate businesses. "We need to restore the dignity of our people - dignity of labour, of self esteem, and of heritage. We shall also seek to restore love for one another and among the various ethnic groups to foster unity and development." Professor Shija remains optimistic that, "With God on our side, we shall steadily and surely form the government of Benue State come next year and will place a premium on the security and welfare of Benue people, a government that would promote and reward excellence, accountability inclusivity and above all, the fear of God and zero tolerance for corruption". - Adzegeh is Special Adviser (Media) to Prof. Shija

Posted: 2months ago

Author: Editor in Chief

Current date: 18 October 2026