By Peter Duru, Makurdi

For seven years, Benue State First Lady, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, spotlighted women through the ‘Celebrate the Benue Women’ annual fiesta.

Through the programme, which includes cooking competition and display of farm produce and yields from across the state, attracted visitors from far and wide.

The festivities afforded the women an oppotunity to showcase those cherished values of the Benue woman and their tenacity to excel even in the face of daunting challenges just as they were also availed free distribution of cancer and HIV testing kits.

It was, therefore, not a surprise when, last weekend, Benue women, through the National Council of Women Societies, NCWS, in a show of appreciation, bestowed an award on Mrs. Suswam, in a grand reception that shut down the entire state.

Among those who graced the reception ,which seemed like a farewell to a woman that is so cherished by Benue women, were Nigerian First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan; Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro; wives of some northern states governors; Mr. Mike Omeri of the National Orientation Agency , among other prominnent Nigerians.

In her speech, Mrs. Jonathan noted that Mrs. Suswm had left lasting legacies in the minds of the   less privileged women, youths and children of Benue State through her pet project, the Sev Av Foundation.

She noted that the award was well deserved noting that the Benue First Lady had, through her programme, given voice to the voiceless and also encouraged women to take to politics in order to attain the 35 percent affirmative action campaign.

Dame Jonathan also called on women to pray for the peace, unity and the political stability of the country ahead of the 2015 general elections.

She urged women to always offer useful advice to their husbands and children, as political activities gain momentum,   in the collective interest of the society.

Represented by the wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Hellen Mark, the First Lady commended the NCWS for recognizing the inestimable contributions of Mrs. Suswam to enhancing the livelihood of women and children in the state.

Dame Jonathan said, “As women and mothers, we must not all forget that we owe it a responsibility to pray for our country and also caution our husbands and children to desist from acts that could be inimical to the the unity, stability and the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming general elections.”.
In her speech, Mrs. Suswam called for peace in the country and expressed gratitude that her modest contributions to the well-being of the less privileged   women and children, in the last seven years was being recognized by Benue women.

Recounting some of her achievements, she said that through her pet project, the Sev-Av Foundation, the ravaging scourge of HIV/AIDS had been drastically reduced in Benue, noting that the state, which hitherto had the highest prevalence of the virus in the country, had moved to number seven.

The First Lady, who is the Chairperson of Northern Governors Wives Forum, disclosed that through her effort, women in the state have had more than 35 percent in elective and appointive positions, including the appointment of the Vice Chancellor of the state owned university.
The governor’s wife disclosed that Sev-Av Foundation had empowered women and youths through the acquisition of various skills in computer operation, metal work and electroplating, tailoring and beads making as well as catering and making of spices.

She said, “Close to 1,000 women and youth have benefitted from these skills acquisition centres with the outstanding graduands in each set getting equipment at the end of their six months training to enable them start their own businesses.”

The Chairman of the occasion and Minister of Interior,  Moro, noted that the office of the First Lady was now close to the people than before through the activities of the Benue First Lady.

Moro urged Mrs. Suswam to continue with her philanthropic gestures even after office.

On his part, Chief Steven Lawani, the state deputy governor, who was the chief host, commended Mrs. Suswam on her pet project, Sev-Av Foundation, which he said had impacted tremendously on the citizenry.
In her speech,the state President of the NCWS, Chief Mrs. Tabitha Akure, stated that Mrs. Suswam was selected for the award because she had exemplified herself in the service of the downtrodden in the state.

Governor Gabriel Suswam, who also attended the occasion, urged women to mitigate the effect of the outcome of the forthcoming elections by rightly advising their husbands who may be contesting so that the electoral process would be peaceful and the society would be better for it.