FIC Report (Benue State) – The Benue State Government has officially launched the inaugural phase of its International Entrepreneurship and Youth Empowerment Programme, a landmark initiative aimed at equipping Benue youths with globally relevant technical and entrepreneurial skills.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State, Sir Tersoo Kula, mnipr, disclosed this on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, noting that the initiative is a strategic intervention of the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia to strengthen human capital development and create sustainable pathways for youth empowerment.
The programme, being implemented in partnership with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), is currently underway at the Republican Institute for Vocational Studies (RIPO), Belarus, where selected participants have commenced intensive artisanal and vocational training.
The training combines classroom instruction with hands-on practical experience, with emphasis on infrastructural development and a wide range of vocational disciplines. It is specifically designed to provide participants with modern digital and technical competencies required to thrive in today’s highly competitive global labour market.
The programme also places strong emphasis on internationally recognized certification and industry relevance, positioning beneficiaries for greater opportunities in innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce competitiveness.
Governor Alia has further disclosed plans to expand the initiative to cover the agricultural and automotive sectors, underscoring his administration’s unwavering commitment to sustainable youth empowerment through strategic international collaboration.
The Benue delegation, led by the Director-General of the Bureau for Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation, Mrs. Benita Shuluwa, was formally received by officials of the Republican Institute for Vocational Studies (RIPO), with training activities commencing immediately.
Both the Benue State Government and RIPO have expressed optimism over the growing partnership, with advanced discussions already underway to extend the programme across multiple Centres of Excellence within the institute.
This pioneering initiative is expected to create new opportunities for skills acquisition, innovation, and global exposure for Benue youths, further reinforcing Governor Alia’s vision of building a prosperous and self-reliant future for the state.
VERONICA AZEMBA
For Head of Center FIC Makurdi
