FIC Report (Benue State) – The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Benue Digital Infrastructure Company (BDIC), Mr. Gbande Hembaor Terwase, has announced a bold plan to create over 100,000 digital jobs across Benue State in the next three years. This was disclosed during his address at the Congress of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Chapter, held at the NUJ House, Makurdi on Monday 28th JULY 2025.
Mr. Gbande, who was a special guest at the event, said BDIC was established as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) by the Benue State Government under the leadership of Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia to spearhead the state’s digital transformation.
“The media remains the conscience of society,” he noted, emphasizing the critical role journalists play in shaping public opinion, safeguarding democracy, and holding power accountable—particularly in a rapidly evolving digital age.
BDIC’s Milestones and Digital Transformation Efforts
Highlighting the journey of BDIC since its approval in July 2024 and registration in August 2024, the MD listed several accomplishments including:
Deployment of over 10 functional digital platforms such as:
Benue Geographic Information System (BENGIS)
Benue Executive Document Management System (EDMS)
Benue State Virtual Marketplace
Civil Service Management System
Integrated Revenue System
e-Citizen Identity Registration System
Development of 20 additional platforms currently in progress, including:
Benue Agricultural Data Management System (BenADAMS)
Smart Health, Smart Education, e-Procurement, and Local Government Automation Systems
Broadband fiber-optic deployment to key government MDAs to enable real-time digital governance
Strategic partnerships with global and national organizations such as Huawei Technologies, WIPO, UNDP, NITDA, NBC, NCC, NDPC, and Digital Bridge Institute
Local investments exceeding $170,000 in the production of digital hardware including laptops, fingerprint scanners, and self-service kiosks, with projected revenue of over ₦6.6 billion.
Digital Skills Development and Job Creation
Mr. Gbande revealed that BDIC has initiated the largest digital skills training program in Benue’s history, targeting 40,000 public servants across the State and Local Government levels. Over 4,800 civil servants have already received training, with numbers growing weekly.
Speaking on BDIC’s job creation vision, he stated:
“We are committing to generate over 100,000 digital jobs in Benue within three years through outsourcing platforms, digital manufacturing, smart agriculture, and innovation hubs.”
According to him, 23,000 youths—1,000 per Local Government Area—will be trained through the 3MTT/BDIC Digital Skills Program to support this ambition.
Call for Partnership with Journalists
The BDIC boss extended a hand of collaboration to the NUJ, advocating for a strong partnership to digitally empower journalists in Benue State.
Proposed initiatives under the partnership include:
Establishment of NUJ Digital Skills Labs
Training in mobile journalism, cybersecurity, digital content creation, data storytelling, and AI tools
Support for launching community-driven digital news platforms
Inclusion of young journalists in BDIC innovation labs and ICT fellowships
“Our goal is to ensure that Benue journalists are not left behind but become leading voices in Nigeria’s digital information age,” he stated.
Looking Ahead
Mr. Gbande praised Governor Hyacinth Alia for his visionary leadership and commitment to digital governance, describing the Governor’s support as the driving force behind BDIC’s rapid progress.
In closing, he urged media professionals to play a central role in building a “Digital Benue,” and challenged journalists to harness digital tools to inform, reform, and transform society.
“Let us empower our storytellers. Let us build a Digital Benue together,” he concluded.
In reaction, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber Commended the MD BIDC for the level of Digital Infrastructure being put in place within a short period of time, he assured him of the willingness of Journalist to partner with the company in the area of publicity.
Signed
VERONICA AZEMBA
FOR Head of Center FIC MAKURDI
