Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has stated that his administration was committed to promoting its cultural heritage to the outside world.
The Governor stated this during a dinner organised by his wife and First Lady of the state, Mrs. Eunice Ortom, in Government House Makurdi.
The Governor noted that it was a great honour for people of the state to have their troupe performing at the national level and appreciated the Artistic Director National Troupe of Nigeria, Mr. Tar Uko, for partnering with the state to harness talents towards promoting culture.
He commended his wife for putting the event together and prayed God to make the year 2020 more memorable for people of the state.
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Welcoming the guests earlier, Mrs. Ortom explained that the dinner was put together to acknowledge how special the invitees were to the first family, saying that it was a recognition for their various roles in support of the Governor’s administration.
Artistic Director of the National Troupe, Mr. Tar Uko in a remark said the overall winners of the competition, Takuruku Troupe, had been inducted as honorary members of the national troupe. Second and third positions went to Heritage and Viashima Troupes respectively.
Representatives of Zones A, B and C, Professor Terhemba Shija, Dr. Tivlumun Nyitse and Mrs. Lydia Okorie, all commended the first family for finding time out of their very tight schedule to celebrate with the people, even as they all pledged their support to the administration of Governor Ortom.
At the dinner, awards were presented to winners of the Swange Music and Dance Festival, organised by the ministry of information, culture and tourism in collaboration with the National Troupe of Nigeria.
