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Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia tasked stakeholders with deliberately transforming the state’s vast human and natural resources into tangible opportunities, investments, jobs and improved living standards for the people.
The Governor made the call during the Benue 2035 Economic Transformation, Capital Formation and Prosperity Summit, held in Makurdi on Monday.
The Governor said he strongly believes in the intelligence, resilience, creativity and determination of the people of Benue, stressing that belief and potential alone cannot transform society, but that government must create the right environment for citizens to prosper.
He said such an environment must guarantee security, quality infrastructure, education, healthcare, productive employment, investment opportunities and strong institutions, stressing that farmers, families and businesses must be able to operate without fear.
The Governor described the summit as an opportunity to move Benue from potential to prosperity through practical decisions, executable strategies and clear investment priorities.
He urged participants to set aside hierarchy, challenge assumptions, share ideas and develop solutions that could work specifically for the state, rather than producing another report that would end up on a shelf.
He identified governance and execution, security and justice, capital formation, economic development, agriculture, infrastructure and power, human capital, technology and artificial intelligence, as well as productivity and citizen experience as key areas requiring attention.
According to him, the sectors are interconnected, as agriculture requires security, investment requires confidence, businesses need infrastructure and reliable power, while human capital depends on quality education and opportunities.
Alia urged participants to focus on solutions that protect the people and provide genuine pathways to a better life, stressing that the outcome of the summit must go beyond the current political season.
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He said the process would move from ideas to choices, action and measurable results, adding that the ultimate goal was to create a development platform capable of transforming and elevating Benue beyond a single election, administration or individual.
The Group Managing Director/CEO of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Dr Raymond Asemakaha, who welcomed participants to the summit, described the gathering as more than a meeting, stressing that it represents hope, a commitment to Benue’s future and a determination to create better opportunities for the state and its people.
According to him, the summit was deliberately designed to bring together people from different backgrounds, institutions and perspectives because the future of Benue requires collective participation.
Asemakaha highlighted the growing pressure on the state’s economy, noting that Benue’s tertiary institutions produced 14,802 graduates in 2024 and 16,200 in 2025, with the numbers expected to continue rising.
Against a population of about 7.3 million and an annual growth rate of 2.4 per cent, he stressed that Benue’s economic output must grow faster than its population if the state is to achieve sustainable prosperity.
He pointed to Benue’s vast land resources, covering more than 34,000 square kilometres, as a major opportunity for economic expansion, particularly given the large portion that remains underutilised.
He therefore emphasised the need to translate the state’s human and natural resources into productive economic activities capable of creating jobs, wealth and sustainable livelihoods for its growing population.
The BIPC boss expressed appreciation to Governor Hyacinth Alia for his leadership and for supporting the summit, while also thanking stakeholders and Hudson Global for their participation and partnership, saying their presence demonstrated a shared belief in Benue’s potential and willingness to contribute to its development.
Asemakaha also called for a collective commitment to achieving a $5 billion investment target, describing the summit as an opportunity to align strategies and turn Benue’s potential into measurable economic growth.
