By Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to partnering with faith-based organisations, particularly the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), to promote human development and lift citizens out of poverty.
Governor Mutfwang stated this on Thursday when the leadership of ECWA District Church Councils in Plateau State paid him a courtesy visit at the Old Government House, Rayfield, Jos.
The Governor commended ECWA for its over a century of contributions to Plateau State and Nigeria, particularly in education, healthcare, agriculture, employment and community development.
He noted that the church’s institutions have historically served people across religious divides, recalling the contributions of faith-based institutions such as Bingham University Teaching Hospital and Vom Christian Hospital to healthcare and human development.
Governor Mutfwang also recalled ECWA’s contributions to agriculture through ECWA Farms and ECWA Central Farmers, as well as the enduring legacy of the Miango Rest Home.
He said his administration would continue to leverage ECWA’s structures and reach to extend government interventions to ordinary citizens.
The Governor said the partnership with ECWA and other faith-based organisations was also anchored on economic empowerment, stressing that the ability of a church to sustain its mission is closely linked to the wellbeing of its members.
Earlier, the General Secretary of ECWA, Rev. Dr. Ayuba Asheshe, commended the Mutfwang administration for its interventions in infrastructure, agriculture and human development, as well as its continued engagement with communities in the pursuit of peace and development.
Rev. Asheshe particularly appreciated the Governor for extending fertiliser support to citizens and ECWA Districts across the state, describing the intervention as an expression of concern for families whose livelihoods depend on agriculture.
He appealed to the government for support towards transportation and logistics for the forthcoming ECWA Pastors Conference and the ECWA Women Fellowship International Conference.
He reaffirmed ECWA’s commitment to the social and economic development of Plateau State through education, healthcare, agriculture, employment, community development and human capacity building.
Rev. Asheshe expressed optimism that the partnership between the church and government would continue to grow for the benefit of the people.