By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The Benue State Government has called for stronger collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to accelerate progress in maternal health, youth development, and the protection of women and girls.
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh Ogwuche, made the call during a high-level multi-sectoral stakeholders’ meeting involving government ministries, development partners, and civil society organisations.
Ogwuche described the engagement as a demonstration of shared responsibility, noting that Benue operates within the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus due to ongoing humanitarian challenges, including internally displaced persons, while striving to strengthen its health systems.
He identified key challenges facing the state, such as persistent maternal mortality, limited access to reproductive health services for young people, widespread gender-based violence, and increasing healthcare needs among displaced populations.
“These are not just statistics, but lives and futures at risk,” he said.
The commissioner outlined priority areas for collaboration, including expanding family planning services, improving emergency obstetric and newborn care, scaling up youth-friendly health services, strengthening gender-based violence response systems, and enhancing data-driven planning.
He also called for increased technical support, inclusion of Benue in UNFPA programme expansion, and pilot implementation of high-impact interventions.
In response, UNFPA’s Senior Programme Specialist, Chris Macaulay, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the state in advancing women’s rights, improving access to reproductive health services, and promoting youth empowerment.
Macaulay highlighted ongoing UNFPA interventions, including reproductive health service delivery, emergency obstetric care, gender-based violence prevention, mental health support, and the establishment of safe spaces for women and girls.
He commended the state government, under Governor Hyacinth Alia, for developing a Youth Development Plan using the Youth Development Index, describing it as a data-driven initiative that positions Benue as a leader in youth programming in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Other stakeholders at the meeting included the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Theresa Odachi Ikwue, and representatives from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, alongside development partners.
Participants stressed the need to expand youth-friendly services, strengthen sexuality education, promote inclusion of persons with disabilities, and create economic opportunities for young people.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment to improve coordination, mobilise resources, and strengthen systems to enhance health outcomes and protect vulnerable populations across the state.
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