By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
The Benue State Government has commenced the first phase of its International Entrepreneurship and Youth Empowerment Programme in Belarus, in a major push to prepare young people in the state for global opportunities through technical and vocational training.
The initiative, introduced under the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia, is being executed in collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment and is already underway at the Republican Institute for Vocational Studies (RIPO) in Belarus.
Selected participants from Benue State have begun intensive training sessions combining classroom learning with practical hands-on experience in various vocational and infrastructural disciplines.
Government officials said the programme is aimed at equipping youths with modern technical, digital, and entrepreneurial skills needed to thrive in today’s competitive global labour market.
Speaking on the development, the Benue State Government described the programme as a strategic investment in human capital development, with strong emphasis on globally recognised certification and industry-based training.
Governor Alia also disclosed plans to expand the initiative into the agricultural and automotive sectors as part of broader efforts to promote sustainable youth empowerment and international cooperation.
The Benue delegation to Belarus, led by the Director General of the Bureau for Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation, Mrs. Benita Shuluwa, was formally received by officials of RIPO, with training activities commencing immediately after arrival.
Officials of both the Benue State Government and RIPO expressed confidence in the partnership and revealed that discussions were ongoing to expand the programme across several Centres of Excellence within the institute.
According to the statement by Sir Tersoo Kula, mnipr, Chief Press secretary to the Governor, the initiative is expected to create new opportunities for skills acquisition, innovation, and international exposure for youths across Benue State.
