Benue State House of Assembly has commended the State Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD) for attracting over N80 billion in funds.
The chairman of the House Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Peter Uche, during an oversight function visit to the Bureau, also hailed the DG of BICD, Leonard Viashima, and Governor Hyacinth Alia for working tirelessly to attract development in the state.
According to Uche, “The House was impressed with the management of the organisation led by Director General Leonard Viashima on the way they are handling the office’s activities, which has had a positive impact on the lives of the Benue people, especially the vulnerable population.”
Earlier, the BICD DG, Viashima, told the House that within the short period in office, the organisation has achieved several milestones, including facilitating high-level engagements, counterpart funding, and partnerships with international organisations.
He disclosed that the BICD has attracted funds worth about N80 billion in materials and cash, such as 4,047,750 bed nets, for distribution across the state, facilitated the reactivation of a dormant IFAD project, and signed MoUs with several organisations, including the establishment of IDP farms.
According to him, “The Bureau has also conducted a humanitarian needs assessment, facilitated Benue State’s declaration as a humanitarian state, and secured the state’s enlistment in the Solutions for Displaced Persons Project.”
He maintained that BICD has facilitated over 15,000 short-term and 145 full-time employment opportunities for Benue indigenes in the humanitarian and development space and has hosted diplomatic visits from several international organisations.
The Bureau for International Cooperation and Development has made significant strides in coordinating and enhancing the efforts of various stakeholders in Benue State. Through strategic partnerships, capacity building, and advocacy, the BICD positions Benue State as a hub for sustainable development and humanitarian intervention.
“We have also attracted humanitarian Rapid Response funds from USAID-bureau for humanitarian assistance and IOM to provide humanitarian assistance in the state, which the launch of RRF to enable IDPs to be resettled to more dignifying shelters as well as a successful coordination of launch of the durable solutions project in the state by the office of the vice president, which has made Benue to be included on the durable solution states by the launching.”
He promised to commence a legislative process to upgrade the Benue State Bureau for International Cooperation Development, BICD, into a government agency, considering its achievements within a short period of existence.
“The Bureau remains committed to fostering collaboration, promoting transparency, and maximising the impact of development initiatives for the benefit of all Benue citizens, especially vulnerable groups,” he added.
