Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has kickstarted a youth empowerment initiative with the distribution of wheelbarrows to women and youth across the state.
The program, according to the governor, is aimed at fostering self-reliance and creating job opportunities, especially for rural youths who often lack access to formal employment. The distribution, which covers all 23 local government areas, includes both male and female beneficiaries.
A government official who spoke with reporters on Tuesday confirmed that the wheelbarrows have already been handed over to local council authorities for onward distribution.
But while the intention may be to uplift struggling communities, the initiative has drawn widespread criticism.
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Many residents took to social media and local forums to express disappointment, questioning the relevance and depth of the gesture in tackling the real challenges of youth unemployment.
“This is not what we expected from a government that promised meaningful change,” one resident said.
Others have argued that the move falls short of addressing more sustainable needs like skill acquisition, access to capital, or vocational training.
Some see it as a throwback to outdated empowerment models that fail to reflect modern realities.
Governor Alia’s administration insists that the program is just one of many to come and that broader empowerment plans are underway.
