By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
The Managing Director of the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, has revealed that plans are underway for the company to launch a Palm oil and bread factory in the state.
Dr Raymond explained that the bread factory will be the biggest bread factory in the state as part of its short term business programme to improve the living standard of the people as well carry teaming unemployed youths out of the street.
While fielding questions from journalists at BIPC headquarters in Makurdi, the MD disclosed that the agency is targeting March 2024 for the launch of both businesses.
He explained that the decision is to take-off the street about 4.8 million Benue indigenes, mostly youths who are graduates from universities, colleges of education and polytechnics.
He expressed worry that youths between 18 and above years who by international labour laws are rated as adults would not be gainfully employed, describing the scenario as the cause of insecurity in the state and stressed that the BIPC under his watch would encourage young graduates to also key into the programme.
He also expressed dismay that what has worsened unemployment in the state was the non existence of private companies with the capacity to employ young people of about 100 at a stretch, pointing out that BIPC plans to encourage people interested in starting businesses with small capital rather than those looking for millions to help government remove a huge population of people especially youths out there on the streets.
The MD further explained upon discovering that the state does not have the capacity to return cash despite its 5.8 billion GDP, because of lack of producing companies that makes cash flow possible, BIPC under his watch resolved and made a deliberate choice of the two products, believing that they would be patronised since they would be needed by everyone for the state to maintain cash flow in the system.
He also lamented that business men and women in other places only come into the state to take and go back to their places without giving the state anything, stressing that the situation has made the state and its people poorer.
“Benue as we speak has a lot of challenges, ranging from politics, insecurity and unemployment, but we are determined to change the narrative for good.
“My office is always open to constructive criticism and advises people to refrain from acts that would bring retrogression to the state,” He emphasised.