Benue 2035: Governor Alia Demands Practical Strategies to Attract Investment, Create Jobs

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has challenged participants at the Benue 2035 Economic Transformation, Capital Formation and Prosperity Summit to develop practical strategies that will attract investment, create jobs and improve living standards across the state.

Alia gave the charge during his opening remarks at the summit held at the Fr Alia Conference Hall, SEMA, Makurdi, where he said the gathering must produce clear decisions, measurable outcomes and practical guidelines that would translate into action.

The governor stressed that the summit should not produce another development document that would eventually be abandoned without implementation.

“Potential, by itself, does not transform a society. It must be converted into opportunity, opportunity into investment, investment into productive activity, and productive activity into jobs, incomes and improved quality of life,” he said.

According to Alia, the summit is designed to move Benue from “potential to prosperity” by identifying investment priorities and execution strategies capable of shaping the state’s long-term economic development.

He urged participants to think boldly, challenge existing assumptions, study successful development models and identify approaches that could realistically be adapted to Benue’s circumstances.

“You were not invited here merely because of the offices you occupy or the positions you hold. You are here because of your knowledge, experience, perspective and capacity to contribute meaningfully to the future of Benue,” the governor said.

Alia noted that the state’s development priorities were interconnected, arguing that agriculture could not thrive without adequate security, businesses required infrastructure and reliable electricity to remain productive, while investors needed confidence before committing capital.

He therefore called for proposals that are ambitious but realistic, innovative but implementable, and directly linked to job creation, household incomes and broader prosperity.

The governor also urged participants to subject every proposal to two key questions: whether it would protect the people and whether it would provide them with a genuine pathway to a better life.

“If a proposal does neither, then we must honestly ask ourselves why the Government should commit its limited time, energy and resources,” he said.

Alia disclosed that the summit would end with an executive review, strategic alignment and approval process aimed at moving the state from ideas to concrete choices, and ultimately to measurable results.

“The next election matters, but the future and prosperity of Benue matters more,” he said, stressing that Benue’s development agenda should extend beyond electoral cycles, individual administrations and political personalities.

The governor expressed confidence that the summit would produce recommendations capable of delivering tangible improvements in the lives of residents and laying the foundation for sustained economic growth in the state.