The Group Managing Director of the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha-CFA, has revealed that the company in conjunction with the state government is poised 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 His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, the Executive Governor of Benue State.
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.
Describing the graduating youths as a “significant emerging market,” Dr. Asemakaha stressed that empowering them to transform their skills into thriving businesses would stimulate economic growth.
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.
Dr. 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.
