The announcement was made on Saturday, 29th November 2025, at the vibrant grand finale of the state’s vocational skills acquisition programme held at Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi. The event marked a significant step in youth empowerment as more than 5,580 young participants from all 23 local government areas completed months of practical training across diverse income-earning trades. Their demonstrations in cosmetology, painting, Ankara fashion design, organic fertilizer production, catering, shoemaking, makeup artistry, and various technical crafts showcased a renewed direction in Benue’s strategy for economic inclusion.
At the ceremony, leadership from the state’s investment and property corporation noted that the graduating youths now form a rising economic force capable of transforming local commerce if properly nurtured. The organisation announced that it will provide one million naira in startup capital to each of the seven pioneering trainee groups. The seven million naira intervention aims to help the new entrepreneurs launch immediately and avoid the financial setbacks that often prevent small ventures from gaining momentum.
The corporation urged the state government to reinforce business-friendly policies that broaden market access, lower startup barriers, and support the expansion of small enterprises across Benue. It emphasised the need for a shift from theory-heavy education to practical, enterprise-oriented skill-building that can absorb the fast-growing youth population and truly strengthen the local economy.
According to the agency, backing these budding entrepreneurs will create thousands of jobs—both direct and indirect—while also reducing insecurity by addressing the economic challenges that push many young people toward dangerous alternatives. It underscored that sustained investment in vocational skills and entrepreneurship should be a core pillar of Benue’s long-term development strategy.
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The organisation also commended the state government for making youth empowerment a priority and encouraged continued support for initiatives that equip young people with marketable skills, confidence, and the ability to contribute meaningfully to economic growth. With their training completed, tools in hand, certificates earned, and seed funding secured, thousands of youths are now stepping into a new era of financial independence.
The message from Makurdi is clear: Benue is cultivating a future driven by young entrepreneurs who are prepared not to wait for employment but to create opportunities, strengthen the MSME ecosystem, and expand the state’s economic base for years to come.
