The Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC) has graduated its first set of six Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees under the newly introduced Business Model initiative.
The event, held in Makurdi, marked a milestone in BIPC’s effort to support displaced persons with sustainable empowerment opportunities.
Speaking at the graduation, the Group Managing Director of BIPC, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, CFA, explained that the initiative, designed in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), was created to equip participants with entrepreneurial skills and financial support to enable them to become self-reliant.
“Today, we are not only giving hope but building futures. These beneficiaries now have the tools, knowledge, and capital to thrive beyond humanitarian aid,” Dr. Asemakaha stated.
Each graduate received ₦250,000 in seed capital to establish small-scale businesses. The BIPC boss also assured that subsequent batches of IDPs and refugees would be enrolled in the coming months.
UNHCR’s representative, Naomi John Yerima, praised the initiative, stressing that displacement should not define the potential or future of beneficiaries.
One of the graduates, Oyah Comfort, a refugee from Cameroon, expressed gratitude to BIPC and UNHCR for creating opportunities to rebuild lives, noting that the support will help restore dignity and independence.
According to the management, the graduation ceremony is a reflection of BIPC’s commitment to integrating IDPs and refugees into Benue State’s economic framework, ensuring that humanitarian interventions translate into long-term development and inclusive growth.
