BENUE TARGETS $5BN INVESTMENT AS GOV. ALIA OPENS BENUE-SASI SUMMIT

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has officially opened the Benue 2035 Economic Transformation, Capital Formation and Prosperity Summit, with a target of mobilising a $5 billion investment platform to accelerate economic growth and prosperity in the state.

The three-day summit, organized by the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) in partnership with Hudson Global, commenced Monday in Makurdi under the theme From Potential to Prosperity held at Rev. Father Alia Hall, SEMA, Makurdi, Benue State Capital.

Declaring the summit open, Governor Alia said Benue possesses the human capacity and abundant resources required to build an economically prosperous state, but stressed that potential must be converted into opportunities, investments, productive activities, jobs and improved living standards.

The Governor said his administration’s responsibility was to create an environment where farmers, businesses and families could thrive through improved security, infrastructure, quality education, healthcare, investment opportunities, productive employment and strong institutions.

He described the summit as more than a gathering, saying it was designed to produce practical decisions, executable strategies and clear investment priorities capable of shaping Benue’s future beyond any single administration or election cycle.

Governor Alia challenged participants to think boldly, challenge existing assumptions, identify 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 as key areas requiring strategic attention.

According to him, the issues are interconnected, noting that agriculture cannot thrive without security, while businesses require infrastructure and reliable power to become productive.

He urged delegates to focus on solutions that would protect the people and provide genuine pathways to better lives.

The Governor also emphasized the need for clear ownership and measurable results, stressing that the summit must not produce another report that would end up on a shelf.

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 shape the future of Benue.

Asemakaha welcomed participants on behalf of the board and management of BIPC, describing the summit as a gathering for “hope,” the future of Benue’s children and the prosperity of the state.

He said Benue needed to grow its economy faster than its population, citing the increasing number of graduates produced by tertiary institutions.

He noted that 14,802 graduates were produced in 2024, while the figure rose to 16,200 in 2025, against a population of about 7.3 million people and more than 34,000 square kilometres of largely underutilized land.

Asemakaha said BIPC’s role was to provide the platform, while participants were expected to engage, share ideas and commit to building a prosperous Benue.

Also speaking, Hudson Global Chief Executive Officer, Prince Tom Isehohi, commended Governor Alia for what he described as the transformation strides of his administration.

Prince Isehohi shared his personal journey of leaving Nigeria at the age of 17 and eventually finding himself on Wall Street, where a mentor challenged him to raise $1 billion.

He assured Benue State that Hudson Global would work with BIPC to bring the needed funding required to drive the state’s development ambitions.

Isehohi explained that the SASI model would be used during the three-day sessions to equip participants with strategic knowledge and develop a blueprint for implementation by the state government.

He said delegates would identify five critical things capable of transforming Benue into a competitive and prosperous economy.

He further projected that within the next two years, a company capable of generating $2 billion would be built, stressing that Governor Alia had the right people to drive the process.

He added that the SASI process would also support efforts to make Benue the most secure state in Nigeria.

The summit brings together government officials, traditional rulers, business leaders, investors, development partners, experts and other stakeholders to develop practical strategies for Benue’s economic transformation.