By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Benue Investment and Property Company, BIPC, has revealed plans to sponsor a bill at the Benue State House of Assembly, known as the Start-Up Act, aimed at supporting young people in tertiary institutions who undergo skills acquisition training to access funding and start their own businesses.
Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha disclosed this at a ceremony organized by the Benue State Government and BIPC, themed “Fueling Benue Future, tagged Students Turning Point programme for Tertiary Institutions in Benue State”.
Asemakaha lamented the lack of technicians in the state, despite having many higher institutions, and urged youths to acquire skills to fill the knowledge gap, adding that BIPC is establishing industries and needed skilled technicians to fill the jobs.
“The student’s turning point shall cover all tertiary institutions in the state. We want young people to learn skills so that they can take up these jobs”, Asemakaha said.
He encouraged students to look beyond paper qualifications and academic certificates, advising them to embrace skills acquisition which he described as the future currency.
Gobir Ismail, in a paper presentation, advised students to have a broad mindset, by acquiring multiple skills to avoid lacking opportunities.
Dr. Peverga Dam, a senior lecturer at Moses Orshio Adasu University, MOAU, Makurdi, described the programme as timely, commending BIPC and the Benue State Government for organizing it.
Prof. Nelson Alyebo, Dean of Students Affairs, acknowledged that such a programme was being introduced to the university for the first time, praising Governor Alia’s leadership as visionary
