FIC Report (Benue State) – Buruku Local Government Area is set to benefit from the establishment of a campus of the Benue State University of Agriculture, Ihugh, as part of ongoing efforts by the administration of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia to strengthen agriculture and attract foreign investment to the state.
This was disclosed on Monday in Makurdi by the Governor’s point man for Buruku and former Adviser on Foreign Investments, Hon. Sir Alex Addingi, during an interactive session with journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) House.
Hon. Addingi stated that the proposed campus is a strategic move to deepen agricultural development, build local capacity, and position Benue as a leading destination for agribusiness and international partnerships.
He further revealed plans to transform Benue State into a hub for large-scale production of palm oil, oranges, and fast-maturing plantains, noting that the initiative would boost food security and create export opportunities.
According to him, the state government is also constructing a lithium battery production facility for solar energy in Logo Local Government Area, while thirteen groups have already been sponsored to China for training in Information Technology, Agriculture, and Entrepreneurship.
He added that the Alia administration has introduced investor-friendly policies, including tax reliefs and waivers, as well as the Benue State International Investment Summit, aimed at attracting global investors.
Addressing local development concerns, Hon. Addingi decried the underdevelopment of Buruku and pledged targeted interventions.
He announced plans to equip four schools in the area with modern science laboratories and introduce the teaching of Mandarin language to enhance access to scholarship opportunities in China.
He also disclosed plans to train 5,000 youths from Buruku in digital and entrepreneurial skills, while mentoring young professionals in political leadership and governance.
On his political ambition, Addingi affirmed his eligibility to contest for the House of Representatives seat for Buruku Constituency.
In his response, the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, commended Hon. Addingi for engaging with the media and acknowledged the support of the Alia Generation Group. He expressed appreciation for the donation of 1,000 tenera hybrid oil palm seedlings to the NUJ, describing journalists as critical stakeholders in development.
Comrade Ugber assured of fair and balanced reportage by the media and appealed for the inclusion of journalists in the proposed digital training programmes.
VERONICA AZEMBA
For Head of Center FIC Makurdi
