The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have paid a courtesy visit to the Benue State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare to strengthen humanitarian collaboration aimed at ending child malnutrition and empowering women at the grassroots.
The visit took place on Monday, February 9, 2026, at the office of the Honourable Commissioner, where the ECOWAS delegation was led by Dr. Sintiks Torfa Ugbe. She said the mission to Benue State was informed by recent statistics showing a high rate of child malnutrition in the state.
Dr. Ugbe explained that ECOWAS has a mandate covering humanitarian assistance, welfare support and intergovernmental services, noting that the organisation is committed to addressing the situation through coordinated and sustainable interventions.
She said the objective of the visit was to work with the state government to develop a durable action plan that would prevent prolonged displacement, improve livelihoods and raise the development profile of Benue State.
According to her, women affected by displacement will receive special attention, with assurances of business support funding to enable them to move toward self-reliance.
Dr. Ugbe stressed that ECOWAS does not intend to replace the efforts of the Benue State Government but seeks to complement existing programmes already being implemented. She disclosed plans to train civil society organisations and community actors so that knowledge and skills are transferred directly to grassroots communities.
“Our focus is not only to deliver humanitarian assistance but also to provide mentorship and capacity-building that will enable women to build better lives for themselves,” she said, adding that the initiative reflects the philosophy of women supporting women and promotes long-term sustainability.
In his response, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Hon. Aondowase Kunde, expressed appreciation to ECOWAS for its continued humanitarian support to Benue State over the years.
He assured the delegation of the state government’s readiness to collaborate in meeting the needs of women and other vulnerable groups across the state.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon. Mrs. Theresa Odachi Ikwue, welcomed the ECOWAS and IOM teams and expressed delight over the proposed business empowerment initiative.
She highlighted the presence of social welfare auxiliary workers across the 23 local government areas of the state, noting that they could be leveraged to capture accurate data on women beneficiaries.
Hon. Ikwue said the ministry’s core mandate includes sustainability and monitoring to ensure that empowerment programmes achieve their intended outcomes. She commended the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs for his support and intervention during previous rescue and humanitarian missions.
She described the ECOWAS visit as one driven by compassion and partnership, pledging the ministry’s full collaboration and wishing the delegation a safe journey.
The commissioner also acknowledged the contributions of two HeForShe directors in the ministry, Mr. Fele Williams, former Director of Planning, Research and Statistics and current State Coordinator of the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up Project, and Mr. Celestine Ifa, Director of Finance and Accounts, for their dedication to the ministry.
Earlier, the Head of Sub-Office of the International Organization for Migration, Ms. Mediatrice Barengayabo Dooshina from Burundi, expressed enthusiasm for partnering with ECOWAS in line with the mandate of the Ministry of Women Affairs to ensure humanitarian services reach grassroots communities. She said the collaboration would strengthen coordination, improve service delivery and ensure that support reaches women and children most affected by displacement and economic hardship.
