The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Kogi State branch, has called for partnership with government and public officials to improve humanitarian response across the state. Branch Chairman Comrade Benjamin Ajodo made the appeal during the investiture of new honorary members in Lokoja on Tuesday. Those inducted included Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf; Head of Service Barrister Faridat Yusuf Musa; Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo's Special Adviser on Media, Ismaila Isah; and Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Health Insurance Agency, Dr. David Adekunle Aledare. Ajodo said the Society was expanding its "Circle of Humanity" by enlisting respected leaders to advocate for vulnerable groups and strengthen disaster and health emergency responses.
He emphasized that the Red Cross cannot operate effectively in isolation, calling the new synergy with state leaders essential to delivering aid across Kogi—from Lokoja to Okene, from Idah to Kabba. The chairman urged the state government and development partners to support the Society with a proper headquarters, a fully equipped ambulance, and an annual subvention for emergency operations, volunteer training, and outreach. Every contribution, he assured, would be managed with accountability. "The Red Cross cannot do it alone," Ajodo stated. "The synergy we celebrate today between the Society and the leaders of our state is the engine that will drive our humanitarian goals."
In her response, Barrister Faridat Yusuf Musa, speaking for the inductees, expressed gratitude for the recognition and pledged full support for the Society's mission. She affirmed the awardees' commitment to advancing humanitarian goals in the state. The event marked both a ceremonial occasion and a strategic push to deepen institutional and community-based support for emergency response efforts.
Comrade Benjamin Ajodo says the Red Cross cannot work alone yet relies on voluntary service from officials who already hold full-time government roles. The appeal for an annual subvention and operational assets exposes the Society's dependency on state goodwill despite its mandate for neutrality and impartiality. If the Kogi State government fails to act, the humanitarian engine Ajodo envisions may stall before reaching Idah or Kabba.
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