The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, has told Benue students to venture into businesses after school.
He also challenged students of Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi (MOAUM), to emulate successful Nigerian graduates who have transformed their ideas into thriving businesses, urging them to become job creators rather than job seekers.
Dr. Asemakaha gave the charge on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, while delivering a keynote address titled “Dynamics of the 21st Century Labour Landscape” at the university’s maiden Career Day celebration organised by its Career Service Centre.
He cited successful Nigerian entrepreneurs produced by various universities, including Covenant University, where Odunayo Eweniyi, Somto Ifezue and Joshua Chibueze co-founded PiggyVest; Evans Akanno, Chief Executive Officer of Cregital, and Blessing Abeng, associated with Disha, as examples of young Nigerians making their mark in the business and technology sectors.
Others included graduates of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), such as Tosin Eniolorunda, founder of Moniepoint; Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, co-founder of Flutterwave; and Opeyemi Awoyemi, Olalekan Olude and Ayodeji Adewunmi, co-founders of Jobberman.
Dr. Asemakaha also highlighted entrepreneurs associated with Babcock University, including Shola Akinlade and Ezra Olubi, co-founders of Paystack, while pointing to University of Lagos graduates such as Babs Ogundeyi, founder of Kuda Bank, and Seun Onigbinde, founder of BudgIT.
He further cited Ijeoma Shalom, Babcock university students whom he associated with the gaming industry, as an example of the opportunities available to innovative young Nigerians and has launch a $1Billion USA game worth.
The BIPC GMD also referenced Tope Awotona of Ladoke Akintola University as founder of Calendly, as an example of an entrepreneur whose business success demonstrates the potential of technology-driven ideas to achieve global reach.
He urged students of MIAUM to draw inspiration from these entrepreneurs, stressing that their achievements demonstrate that university education can serve as a foundation for innovation, business creation and economic transformation.
“If OAU can produce Moniepoint, if Babcock can produce Paystack, and if Covenant can produce PiggyVest, why can’t MOAUM produce the next big agro-tech unicorn from Benue?” he asked.
Dr. Asemakaha further cited Benue-born entrepreneur Uka, who studied biochemistry but has founded Agrithrive, as an example of how graduates can apply knowledge acquired in school to build businesses and create economic opportunities.
Dr. Asemakaha assured the students that BIPC was willing to support competent young people who demonstrate the capacity to break barriers, innovate and become champions in their chosen fields, noting that the future currency is not the certificate but the skill with graduate margin of 16,200 last year saying this year might be more.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Timothy Terser Alabar, represented by Professor Joseph Sev, described the Career Day as timely, noting that it aligned with the institution’s mandate to equip graduates with practical skills for the changing labour market.
He said the university established the Career Service Centre to develop students’ competencies and improve their preparedness for life after graduation, urging them to embrace skills acquisition while still in school.
