Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has called for concerted efforts to transform the state’s abundant resources into investments, jobs and improved living standards for its people.
Alia made the call on Monday in Makurdi while declaring open the three-day Benue 2035 Economic Transformation, Capital Formation and Prosperity Summit, organised by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) in partnership with Hudson Global.
The summit, held at Rev. Father Alia Hall, SEMA, Makurdi, is themed “From Potential to Prosperity.”
The governor said the state had the human resources and natural endowments required to achieve sustainable economic growth but noted that possessing resources alone was not enough.
“We must convert Benue’s vast potential into real prosperity,” Alia said, stressing the need to translate the state’s resources into concrete economic opportunities.
According to him, the administration’s priority is to create the right conditions for farmers, businesses and families to thrive through improved security, infrastructure, education, healthcare, investment opportunities and productive employment.
He explained that the summit was designed to produce practical decisions and implementable strategies that would provide a long-term direction for Benue’s economic development.
“This summit is more than a gathering. It is about producing practical decisions, executable strategies and clear investment priorities capable of shaping Benue’s future beyond any single administration or election cycle,” the governor said.
Alia challenged participants to think beyond conventional approaches, identify untapped opportunities and develop solutions that could be implemented and measured.
He listed governance and execution, security and justice, capital formation, fiscal sustainability, economic development, agriculture, infrastructure, power, logistics, human capital, technology, artificial intelligence and productivity among the areas requiring strategic attention.
The governor stressed that the various sectors were interconnected, noting that insecurity could undermine agriculture while inadequate infrastructure and unreliable electricity could hinder businesses.
“Agriculture cannot thrive without security, while businesses require infrastructure and reliable power to become productive,” he said.
He urged stakeholders to focus on solutions that would protect citizens while creating sustainable opportunities for improved livelihoods.
Alia also cautioned against allowing the summit’s recommendations to become another unimplemented government document.
“We must not produce another report that will end up on a shelf,” he said, insisting that recommendations must have clear ownership, timelines and measurable outcomes.
Earlier, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, CFA, said the summit was convened to provide a platform for stakeholders to collectively determine a new economic direction for Benue.
Asemakaha, who welcomed participants on behalf of the board and management of BIPC, described the event as a gathering centred on “hope,” the future of Benue’s children and the prosperity of the state.
He said Benue must ensure that its economy grows faster than its population, particularly as the number of graduates entering the labour market continues to increase.
According to Asemakaha, tertiary institutions in the state produced 14,802 graduates in 2024, with the figure rising to 16,200 in 2025.
He noted that the figures were significant given Benue’s population of about 7.3 million and its landmass of more than 34,000 square kilometres, much of which he described as underutilised.
Asemakaha said BIPC’s responsibility was to provide the platform, while participants were expected to contribute ideas, identify opportunities and make commitments towards achieving a prosperous Benue.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Hudson Global, Prince Tom Isehohi, commended Governor Alia for what he described as the transformational strides of his administration.
Isehohi shared his personal experience of leaving Nigeria at the age of 17 and later working on Wall Street, where a mentor challenged him to raise $1 billion.
He assured the state that Hudson Global would work with BIPC to mobilise the funding required to support Benue’s development agenda.
According to him, the SASI model would be deployed throughout the three-day summit to equip participants with strategic knowledge and develop a blueprint for implementation by the state government.
He said participants would identify five key priorities that could reposition Benue as a competitive and prosperous economy.
Isehohi also projected that a company capable of generating $2 billion could be established in the state within the next two years.
He expressed confidence in the capacity of Governor Alia and his team to drive the initiative, while adding that the SASI process would support efforts to make Benue the most secure state in Nigeria.
The summit has attracted government officials, traditional rulers, investors, business leaders, development partners, experts and other stakeholders who are expected to develop practical strategies for accelerating Benue’s economic transformation.
We must convert Benue’s vast potential into real prosperity – Gov Alia