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From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
The Group Managing Director of the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha has revealed that the company in conjunction with the state government is planning to establish a Business Fund to support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), particularly for youths venturing into entrepreneurship.
Dr. Asemakaha made this known at the grand finale of a state-wide skills acquisition programme held at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, where over 5,580 youths graduated from various vocational training sessions organized by the state Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia.
The beneficiaries, drawn from all 23 local government areas, showcased their expertise in painting, cosmetology, Ankara design, organic fertilizer production, makeup artistry, shoemaking, catering and other skill areas during the event’s exhibition.
Asemakaha who described the graduating youths as a “significant emerging market,” stressed that empowering them to transform their skills into thriving businesses would stimulate economic growth in the state.
He announced a ₦1 million seed grant to each of the seven graduating groups, totalling ₦7 million, to help kick-start their entrepreneurial journeys.
He further urged the state government to enact business-friendly laws that would grant young entrepreneurs access to larger markets and strengthen SME development across Benue.
According to him, Benue must prioritize human capital investment by shifting from purely theoretical education to practical business training, especially as the state’s population continues to rise. He noted that such an approach is critical to boosting the state’s GDP and positioning Benue as a hub for innovative small enterprises.
Asemakaha maintained that as the newly trained youths establish their businesses, they will not only create opportunities for themselves but also become employers of labour thereby reducing insecurity by addressing the root causes linked to idleness.
He commended Governor Alia for championing youth empowerment initiatives and called for sustained investment in vocational and entrepreneurial programmes to drive Benue’s economic transformation.
He urged Benue youths to acquire education and also prioritize businesses to enable them be economically empowered and self sustaining.
The Principal Senior Assistant (PSA), to the governor on Protocol and Wardrobe, Emmanuel Iorbee, said Governor Hyacinth Alia, directed him to “go and make it happen and so far we have trained over 14,000 Benue women and youth with entrepreneurial skills. Today, we have about 6,000 women and youth trained in Makurdi LG alone, whom we have come to graduate, and see how we can empower them to go and have something doing.
Also, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA), to the Governor on Youth Organizations and Illegal Levies,Mr Terver Gbenda, said his office supported the programme by sponsoring the 6,000 women and youth that graduated from the programme.
Gbenda expressed joy that the programme has taken a lot of women and youth off the streets, and those that graduated from skill acquisition programme would need little to set-up their businesses.
State Commissioner for Finance, Michael Oglegba, who was the chairman of the event, encouraged them to take their businesses serious by working hard, through honest labour, stressing that what they have learnt would be with them for life.
Oglegba, who assured them of state government support, unveiled the commodities produced by the participants with the sum of N5 million.
Speaking on behalf of the graduands, Dorathy Akpen, from the makeup department, appreciated Governor Hyacinth Alia for giving them skills, facilitators and organisers of the training pledging that with the funds, they are ready to start their business.
