Director General Bureau for Arts, Culture, and Tourism, Makurdi, Dr Shadrach Teryila Ukuma, has charged the winner of the 2025 Benue youth carnival queen contest to be noble in victory, and industrious in projecting the cultural heritage of the state.

Dr. Ukuma made the call when he hosted the organisers of the Benue Youth Cultural Carnival at the premises of the Bureau. He assured the carnival queen of the Bureau’s support and commitment to the project while calling on her to be a good cultural ambassador of the state, adding that she carried the weight and aspirations of many youth who will look up to her crown as their role model.

The Director General, while appreciating Benue State Government for the sponsorship of the event as well as the organisers, Gee-lo events said the carnival was indeed an avenue to bridge the gap between the dwindling fortunes of our culture and the youth while inculcating cultural values in them that would transcend generations. He emphasised the vision of the Bureau, which is anchored on the harnessing, preservation, and promotion of the plethora of art, culture, and tourism aspects of the state to attract investments to the benefit of the state.

In a remark, the carnival queen, Miss Zapaseve Susan Ngusha, thanked gee-lo events for giving her the platform to excel and showcase the rich cultural heritage of the state, while commending the efforts of the state government through sponsorship.

Queen Ngusha called on other contestants to close ranks with her to support her pet project which entails the promotion of the art and culture, and tourism potentialsof the state, catering for the under-served members of our communities, and to train at least, 50 girls in beauty and cosmetolology.

The highlight of the visit was the presentation of the Star Prize, a Hyundai Elantra vehicle, to the carnival queen following her triumph during the carnival by the DG of the Bureau.

Saaniyol Ezekiel Akiga

Chief Information Officer.