Ier Jonathan-Ichaver, who is running for the House of Representatives seat for Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency in Benue State on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, has started a plan to finish 48 impact projects in 26 communities in her constituency within a year.
Ms. Jonathan-Ichaver announced the scheme, titled 48@48, on the occasion of her 48th birthday. The project aims to provide educational support, community clean-ups, medical missions, and infrastructure construction.
Ms. Jonathan-Ichaver, who turned 48 on September 30, and who is also the Founder, Sesor Empowerment Foundation, an NGO, wrote a statement for her birthday in which she asked, “Why 48@48? If I am going to be electioneering in my constituency, I might as well piggyback on this to deliver impact and get a head start on transforming Kwande/Ushongo and Nigeria. There is plenty of work to do if we are going to catch up with the Singapores and Switzerlands of this world!
“For those of you who have known me for over 20 years, I have always celebrated my birthday with something impactful; whether it is a swim-a-thon to raise money for missions, parties with kids at an orphanage, fundraising for Benue IDPs or feeding prisoners at Kirikiri. All with the help of family and friends like you! Thank you for always joining me to impact communities in need,” she said.
Continuing, Ms. Jonathan-Ichaver said, “This year, I am taking it a notch higher and launching the 48@48 Initiative which will deliver 48 impact projects in 26 communities in my federal constituency of Kwande/Ushongo over the next 12 months. We are talking about at least eight boreholes, 12 relief outreaches, four medical missions, 12 community clean-ups and 12 educational support initiatives.”
She solicited help from her network by asking for volunteers and monetary contributions.
Getting involved in party politics is new territory for Ms. Jonathan-Ichaver. She gained notoriety as a social entrepreneur after her organisation, Sesor Empowerment Foundation, began supporting internally displaced people (IDPs) in Lagos and eight other states in Nigeria with financial and emotional assistance.
The Kwande and Ushongo LGAs make up the federal constituency known as Kwande/Ushongo. Geographically, it’s a hilly region flooded by rivers where farming plays a major role in the economy. The nice weather and beautiful scenery make it a popular place for both vacationers and business travellers. Herdsmen have been attacking Kwande for years, and no comprehensive plan to change the economy has been made or put into place.
