The Benue government, on Saturday, graduated 14,942 women and youth in 40 skills acquisition programmes in Makurdi Local Government Area.

The skills, divided across seven major departments, included painting, cosmetology, Ankara design, organic fertiliser production, makeup artistry, shoemaking, catering, and others.

6,000 graduands who are part of the 14,942 women and youth who have been trained across the 23 local government areas (LGAs) of the state received their training at the Aper Aku Stadium for two weeks before graduation.

Speaking at the occasion, the group managing director (GMD) of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Raymond Asemakaha, revealed that the company, in conjunction with the state government, would establish a business fund to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Mr Asemakaha said particular attention would be given to youths and women venturing into entrepreneurship.

The GMD said empowering the beneficiaries to transform their skills into thriving businesses would stimulate Benue’s economic growth.

He further urged the state government to enact business-friendly laws that would enable young entrepreneurs to access larger markets and strengthen SME development across Benue.

“We want to domesticate the start-up law that has been in existence. We want to bring it up so that our people will benefit from it to start up their businesses and explore.

“We are working to domesticate the start-up loan; it has already been done at the federal level, and by next week, we will sign the law so that you will have the seed capital.

“One of the major problems we have in the state is that people don’t have seed capital, which is the major thing. When the law is established in the state, we should be able to give the start-up capital for our teeming youth.

“The governor has thought that the best thing to do is to invest in human capital; that’s why he has put the training together for us to reengineer and redirect the economy and train these persons, not just in the theoretical aspect but also the practical aspects,” he said.

Emmanuel Iorbee, the principal senior assistant (PSA) to the governor on protocol and wardrobe and the organiser of the skills acquisition programme, said Gov. Hyacinth Alia directed him to “go and make it happen.”

“So far, we have trained over 14,000 Benue women and youth with entrepreneurial skills. Today, we have about 6,000 women and youth trained in Makurdi LG alone, who we have come to graduate, and we see how we can empower them to go and have something to do.

“We were able to put up about 40 skills for them to learn, including shoemaking, bag making, oil and spray perfume, beverages, detergent making, soap making, and lots more.

“And what we are doing here today is that we are sharing with them the vision of the state governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia. The message we are giving them is, “Don’t be a youth on the street; be a youth with something doing,” he said with emphasis.

On his part, Terver Gbenda, the senior special assistant (SSA) to the governor on youth organisations and illegal levies, said his office supported the programme by sponsoring the 6,000 women and youth who graduated from the programme on Saturday.

He explained that his office drew participants for the training through advertorials, online ads, and group announcements.

Mr Gbenda further observed that the programme has taken a lot of women and youth off the streets, adding that the majority of the beneficiaries needed little support to kick-start their businesses.

Chairman of the occasion, Michael Ogleba, commissioner for finance, assured them of government support.

He advised that all they need to do is to work hard, through honest labour, stressing that what they have learnt will be with them for life.

Representatives of the graduands expressed their appreciation to the governor, facilitators, and organisers of the training.

(NAN)