Governor Alia Approves New Appointments In Critical Sectors Of His Administration

Determined to expand the frontiers of his administration, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, has approved the appointments of five key persons to take charge of some key sectors in the State.

The new appointees included, Professor Daniel Amine as Director general of the Benue Geographical Information System (BENGIS), Mrs. Afaityo Rebecca as General Manager, Community and Social Development Agency, Mr. Michael Uper – Executive Secretary, Benue State Sports Marketing and Lottery Board, Dr. Erdoo Mongol as Managing Director/CEO of the Benue State Geo-Mining Company Nigeria Limited, and Surveyor Tsokar Terfa as Technical Advisor to the Governor on Land matters.

The Governor also approved the separation of the Department of Solid Minerals from the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, and upgraded it to a Bureau for Solid Minerals.

Accordingly, Mr. Stephen Utah, who was Principal Special Assistant (PSA) to the Governor on Solid Minerals, will now serve as the Executive Secretary at the new the Bureau.

A statement by Sir Tersoo Kula, Chief Press Secretary to the Benue State Governor, said Alia expressed the hope that the appointees will bring to bear their wealth of experience, skills and recognized competences to their new roles to add value to the development of the state in their respective sectors of responsibility.

The Governor further emphasized the importance of upholding the ideals of the administration, thus urged them to prioritize the interests of Benue State in all their official engagements, as encapsulated in the administration’s vision and mission.

A perusal at the profile of Prof. Daniel Amine, who was appointed as Director General of the Benue Geographical Information System (BENGIS), showed that he holds a B.Tech, M.Eng, and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and has worked in various sectors of the economy, including banking and construction. Amine is currently a lecturer at Joseph Sawuan Takar University, Makurdi and has over 20 years of experience in technical and engineering graphics.

Similarly, Mrs. Afaityo Rebecca who was appointed as General Manager of the Community and Social Development Agency. Mrs. Afaityo, holds a M.Sc. and an MBA in Management with an extensive experience in community development. She also served as a Village Extension Officer and has worked as Chairperson of the Initiatives for Empowerment of Vulnerable Persons in Society (IEVPS), among other projects.

In the same vein, Mr. Michael Uper, Executive Secretary of the Benue State Sports Marketing and Lottery Board, is versed in sports marketing, having worked as a consultant in Niger and Lagos States. Until his appointment, he was a consultant with the Ministry of Youth, Sports, and Creativity in Benue State.

Dr. Erdoo Mongol, the new Managing Director/CEO of the Benue State Geo-Mining Company Nigeria Limited is a seasoned geoscientist with over 14 years experience in mining, mineral exploration, regulation, and climate sciences. Erdoo, a hardworking, analytical, and who is passionate about efficient resource management, environmental sustainability, youth empowerment, and education for underserved communities, is committed to adding value to critical mineral extraction through sustainable and innovative approaches that support a green environment.

Surveyor Tsokar Terfa, the Technical Advisor to the Governor on Land matters is a seasoned lands administrator., who served as the Surveyor General of Benue state from 2021-2023.