The Group Managing Director of Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, CFA, has announced the company's intention to collaborate with the state government to establish a Business Fund aimed at providing support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
The Small and Medium Enterprises from the Business Fund will
focus on young entrepreneurs.
Dr. Asemakaha disclosed this during the closing ceremony of a state-wide skills acquisition program held at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.
More than 5,580 youths who participated in various vocational training sessions organized by Governor Hyacinth Alia graduated from the program.
The graduates, representing all the 23 Local Government Areas of the state showcased their skills in painting, cosmetology, Ankara design, organic fertilizer production, makeup artistry, shoemaking, catering, and other fields during an exhibition at the event.
Highlighting the importance of empowering young entrepreneurs, Dr. Asemakaha referred to them as a "significant emerging market" and emphasized that helping them convert their skills into successful businesses would drive economic growth.
He announced a ₦1 million seed grant for each of the seven graduating groups, totaling ₦7 million, to kick-start their entrepreneurial endeavours.
The Group Managing Director called on the state government to enact business-friendly policies that would enable young entrepreneurs to access broader markets and enhance SME development throughout Benue State.
He stressed the need for prioritizing investments in human capital by promoting practical business training over traditional education to support the state's growing population.
The approach, he noted, is vital for boosting Benue's GDP and establishing the state as a hub for innovative small businesses.
Dr. Asemakaha emphasised that as the newly trained graduates establish their ventures, they will not only create opportunities for themselves but also become employers, thereby addressing root causes of insecurity related to unemployment.
In their separate remarks, the organizer of the skills acquisition programme across the state, Hon. Emmanuel Iorbee, PSA on Protocol and Wardrobe and
the SSA on Youth Organizations and Illegal Levies, Hon Terver Gbenda the program coordinator in Makurdi underscored the economic importance of the skills acquisition program.
They commended Governor Alia for his commitment to youth empowerment initiatives and urged continuous investment in vocational and entrepreneurial programs to drive Benue's economic progress.
A total of 14,942 youths and women benefited from the program across the state, with Makurdi Local Government accounting for about 6000 beneficiaries.
