Benue Youths Get Fresh Boost as Alia Promises More Opportunities

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has commended youths in the state for their support and contributions to the success of his administration, assuring them of more opportunities to thrive.

Alia gave the commendation in Makurdi during the celebration of the 2026 International Youth Day, where he urged young people to remain actively involved in efforts to transform the state and the country.
Represented by his Deputy, Mr Sam Ode, the governor described youths as strategic partners in building a virile society, stressing that their capacity, creativity and ideas must be harnessed for sustainable development.
He urged youths to ask questions, challenge existing systems and seek solutions to societal problems, saying the International Youth Day offered an opportunity to celebrate their creativity, ingenuity and achievements, particularly in sports and other fields.
According to him, his administration has created an enabling environment for young people to prosper, noting that youths remain at the heart of his government’s development agenda.
Alia acknowledged the contributions of youths to agriculture, artisanship, sports and other sectors, and pledged that his administration would continue to implement policies and programmes that are youth-friendly.
He further urged young people to take advantage of opportunities provided by the government, particularly in innovation, agriculture and entrepreneurship, noting that such initiatives could create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and Member representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ojotu Ojema, described youths as critical partners in development and custodians of the future of the state.
Ojema, who is also Chairman of the House Committee on Inland Waterways, identified unemployment and insecurity as major challenges confronting young people, urging Benue youths to unite in addressing the security challenges affecting the state.
He called on the people of Benue, particularly the youths, to rise above political, ethnic, religious and personal differences and work together towards restoring peace and security.
“Together, we can build a safer, more peaceful and more prosperous Benue where every young person can live, work and pursue their dreams without fear,” Ojema said.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilisation and Illegal Levies, Comrade Terver Gbenda, disclosed that more than 90 per cent of political appointees and political officers in the state were youths.
Gbenda said more than 9,700 youths had been engaged directly and indirectly through the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), while 10,000 youths had received ICT training.
He added that 2,000 people had been employed by the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), while 5,000 youths had benefited from the Alia Cares programme.
The governor’s aide appealed to Alia to appoint a youth as substantive Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Creativity, while urging young people to resist being used for political purposes and subsequently abandoned.
In his remarks, the Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr Raymond Asemakaha, expressed concern over the increasing number of graduates in the state, noting that more than 60,209 young people graduated from higher institutions in 2026 alone.
Asemakaha urged youths to acquire relevant skills and embrace entrepreneurship, saying skills development would make them more employable, innovative and capable of becoming problem-solvers rather than depending solely on government for employment.