Biography of Hyacinth Alia, background, achievements

In this post, News360 Nigeria explores the biography and career achievements of Gov. Hyacinth Alia.

Hyacinth Lormem Alia is a Nigerian Catholic cleric and politician who has been serving as governor of Benue State since May 29, 2023.

Profile overview

Name: Hyacinth Lormem Alia

Date of birth: 15th May,  1966

Place of birth: Benue State, Nigeria

Education: Fordham University, Bronx, New York City

Political party: All Progressives Congress

Career: Politician, Clergy

Marital status: Single

Background 

Gov. Hyacinth Alia was born in Mbangur, Mbadede, Vandeikya local government area, Benue State, on May 15, 1966.

After completing his education at St. Francis Primary School in Agidi, Mbatiav in Gboko LGA, he enrolled in St. James Minor Seminary in Makurdi in 1983, and was accepted to St. Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos.

In 1990, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sacred Theology after completing studies for a diploma in Religious Studies in 1987.

He graduated from Fordham University in the Bronx, New York City, in 1999 with a master’s degree in religious education (psychology and counseling).

He also earned a master’s degree in biomedical ethics from Pennsylvania’s Duquesne University in 2004.

Although his dissertation is not housed in the library, he obtained a doctorate in the same course at Duquesne in 2005.

Career

On July 7, 1990, Bishop Athanasius Atule Usuh of the Makurdi Catholic Diocese bestowed upon him the title of Catholic priest following his academic graduation.

He also held the position of Director of Pastoral Services at the North Campus of the Catholic Health Service in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, in the United States of America.

He is a member of the Broward Ethics Committee, the CatholicHealth Service System Wide Ethics Committee, and the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.

Politics

He indicated his interest in running on the platform of the All Progressives Congress for the Benue State governor’s office in 2022.

Due to his prior reputation as a purported miracle worker, he was well-liked by Benue residents during his campaign.

In March 2023, Alia emerged victorious in the Benue State governorship election, garnering 473,933 votes to Titus Uba of the Peoples Democratic Party, who received 223,913 votes.

Alia was sworn in as the state’s governor on May 29th, 2023.

Controversy

Because cleric priests are prohibited from participating in partisan politics, Alia announced his candidacy for governor in May 2022, prompting the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Gboko to suspend him from his priestly responsibilities.

Private Life

Being a devout adherent of his teaching, Hyacinth Alia is a Catholic priest who lives a solitary life without marriage.