Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has appointed Nigerian music icon Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, as Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach. The announcement came Wednesday during the artist’s visit to the Government House in Makurdi to commiserate with the state over recent violent attacks.
Governor Alia praised 2Baba as both a global music ambassador and humanitarian, expressing confidence that his “wealth of experience and influence” would benefit Benue’s development agenda. The appointment comes as the state grapples with security challenges that have displaced thousands of residents.
During the meeting, 2Baba emphasized his commitment to supporting relief efforts for internally displaced persons (IDPs) through his foundation. Enoch Ocheni, Head of Communications for 2Baba Foundation, confirmed plans to provide healthcare services, clean water, and sanitation support to affected communities, building on the artist’s role as UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
Governor Alia outlined strict protocols for IDP camp visits, stating: “We must protect traumatized victims from politicization of their plight.” He described the recent attacks as “unprovoked acts of conquest” targeting Benue’s farming communities and appealed for federal collaboration to address the crisis.
The music star’s appointment signals the Alia administration’s strategy to leverage celebrity influence for community engagement amid security challenges. Political analysts suggest the move could help reshape the state’s narrative while attracting humanitarian support to conflict-affected zones.
