Food festival in Benue

No doubt, it was a big event for the female folk, especially the rural women who are usually forgotten in the hinterland with little or nothing said about them,  despite their meaningful contribution to the society. Clad in  different unique attires, which  are  now popularly referred to as “asoebi” the Benue women, majorly drawn from […]

No doubt, it was a big event for the female folk, especially the rural women who are usually forgotten in the hinterland with little or nothing said about them,  despite their meaningful contribution to the society.
Clad in  different unique attires, which  are  now popularly referred to as “asoebi” the Benue women, majorly drawn from the 23 local government areas in the state ,converged on IBB square, Makurdi to rediscover themselves.
Wife of the Benue state governor, Mrs Doshima Yemisi Suswam since coming on board seven years ago, thought it wise to create such opportunity in an elaborate occasion, that brought memorable gifts to these obscure women with indomitable spirit of passion and creativity.
Regardless of their rural status in the face of economic uncertainty and diminished privileges, the annual Celebrate the Benue Woman event and Food Festival, has consistently blurred the  gap between the haves and the have-nots in the state.
This year’s carnival-like celebration was no different with various musicians, including traditional dancers adding colour to the event. It was indeed a splendid occasion which cannot be forgotten in a hurry.Little wonder, most women of the state cherish and look forward to  the end of November  every year.
Apart from the fact that petty traders made brisk businesses at the venue of this year’s Benue women festival, the rural folks through a series of the featured programmes,  such as health talks and check up, sporting activities, family discussion, cooking competition and agricultural produce exhibition, among others, put paid to their unlimited ability to effect a positive change.
The issue of breast and cervical cancer which has become the number one killer of women in the state, was brought to the front burner, as a thought provoking lecture delivered by Dr. Omolola Salako of Federal Medical Center, Makurdi, was accompanied with free medical services in over ten mobile clinics at the centre.
At the end, about 5,000 women benefited from the free health screening gesture, while 300 physically challenged women took away free wheel chairs and crutches, to overcome their disabilities, just as various others won different categories of prizes for outstanding performances in competitive activities.
Also, people in attendance were given 10,000 cancer test kits.
Similarly, the women had opportunity to exhibit their agricultural produce according to their local governments,  and they were rewarded accordingly for the hard work, which showcased bumper harvested crops.
The produce exhibited by women from Tarka local government stole the show, as their farm produce of commercial quantity,  such as rice, yam, tomatoes, pepper; citrus amongst others, beat all the other 22 areas to emerge first position.
In the cooking category, Mrs. Mwuese Tyokaa was obviously shocked at the realization that this afterall wasn’t a dream, as she shuddered with tears of joy to the podium, to receive the key and particulars of a brand new Hyundai Accent.
The rural woman who won the grand prize after participating in the cooking competition which has now become an integral part of the yearly event, began to roll on the ground for joy,  as soon as the wife of the state governor, Mrs. Dooshima Suswam handed her key to the car.

For her, it was no mean feat to have come all the way from Gwer-West to emerge the best cook among 23 women,  each of who were drawn from the 23 local government councils that make up the state.
Delivering her speech at the epoch making event, Mrs. Suswam opined that the event was specifically packaged to promote indigenous dishes, in conformity with the prevailing desire of locally made food consumption in the state, in line with the agricultural policy of the federal government.  
She also expressed optimism that the festival, her brain-child, which had commenced this year with a Cancer Awareness Campaign, when she led over five thousand women on a walk from the Low Level Roundabout to the IBB Square in Makurdi, will go a long way to enhance the socio-economic well being of the entire women.
Mrs. Suswam however lamented the increasing  mortality of the female folks  to  the dreaded cancer, which she said remains the number one killer of Nigerian women.
While stressing the need for women to embark on regular medical check-up ,to ascertain whether they are cancer-free or  cancer-prone, she noted that at least 80,000 Nigerians die annually from various forms of cancer, and that 10,000 of the number were women.
The First Lady further urged the women to avail themselves the opportunity provided to ascertain their status,  as early detection of cancer can save lives and prevent families from unnecessary trauma.
“Don’t wait until you are 50 years before you get yourself screened. Seek for medical check-up until you are pronounced fit. Join the crusade of early detection through screening.”

She emphasized that the 7th edition of the programme with the theme, “Celebrating the Strength of A Woman”  was aimed at networking to harness and maximize the women’s potentials, as well as striving to overcome her challenges.
Meanwhile, a survivor of breast cancer, Mrs. Elizabeth  Gbadamosi, recounted her cancer ordeal in the last 29 years, and advised women to regularly undertake medical examination in order to avoid falling victim to the disease.
“Early detection of the disease is vital, because it will offer you an opportunity to seek proper medical attention at the early stage of disease. Hence if all women make out time to check themselves regularly, it will save us the pains of losing our daughters, mothers and wives to cancer.”
Other women asked questions which bordered on how to prevent cancer or access help when diagnosed with the terminal illness, just as a  side attraction at the event featured a colourful procession of women adorned in various uniforms to add spice  to the occasion.
Also speaking, Governor Gabriel Suswam called on governments at all levels to give more Nigerian women, opportunities to participate in decision making and policy implementation in the country.
Suswam said it has become imperative to support the women, because they have continued to prove their mettle in the face of challenges over the years, stressing that they should be encouraged to do more, as in doing so, the country would be able to harness the invaluable potentials of her women.
He added that the programme has significantly engaged women and particularly educated and enlightened them on critical issues aside celebrating and appreciating their priceless qualities.
The governor however at the occasion ate  of the meal prepared by his wife, Mrs. Suswam,  who had also participated actively in the cooking competition, where she prepared a very delicious meal of okra soup and pounded yam, for her husband and other top government functionaries present at the occasion.