By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
The Benue 2035 Economic Transformation, Capital Formation and Prosperity Summit has identified and adopted five priority areas aimed at moving the state from economic potential to sustainable prosperity.
The three-day summit, organised by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) in Makurdi, sought to establish a $5 billion investment platform to accelerate economic growth, attract private capital and improve the living standards of residents.
Speaking at the summit, the Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr Raymond Asemakaha, said Benue, with a population of more than 7.3 million people, was grappling with structural economic challenges despite its vast human and agricultural resources.
Asemakaha said more than 25 per cent of the state’s arable land remained underutilised, stressing the need for deliberate measures to unlock its economic potential.
According to him, building a pathway from potential to prosperity requires bold thinking, clear priorities and effective implementation.
He identified job creation, security, reliable power supply, access to water and improved quality of life as key priorities that must be addressed to achieve sustainable economic transformation.
Asemakaha added that strong strategies, practical solutions and effective implementation were essential to move the state from vision to execution and from ideas to measurable impact.
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, who acknowledged the recommendations and solutions proposed by participants, said the state was endowed with talented, innovative and resilient people capable of transforming its economy.
The governor commended Asemakaha for his contributions to the state’s economic development, describing him as an outstanding citizen whose initiatives had made significant impact.
“The state is indebted to you,” Alia said.
He pledged his administration’s commitment to implementing the recommendations of the summit, saying the State Economic Team would critically review the proposals and incorporate viable recommendations into a long-term development framework.
According to Alia, the government intends to develop a 30-year plan that will promote innovation, investment and sustainable development across the state.
“We will move from potential to actionable plans. There should be sustainability and engagement of the private sector to drive the plans,” the governor said.
“We must reactivate these efforts and prove to ourselves that it is possible to create a new Benue.”
The summit ended with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Benue State Government and Hudson Global Consulting, the facilitator of the initiative.
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