09/10/2026
PRESS RELEASE
BENIPA, BACT PARTNER TO TURN BENUE’S CULTURAL AND TOURISM ASSETS INTO INVESTMENT, JOBS
Agencies move to build a pipeline around hospitality, cultural experiences, creative enterprise and tourism destinations
The Benue Investment Promotion Agency, BENIPA, and the Benue State Bureau for Arts, Culture and Tourism, BACT, have agreed to deepen collaboration aimed at turning more of Benue’s cultural heritage, tourism destinations, hospitality assets and creative talent into commercially credible opportunities that can attract investment, create jobs and increase visitor spending in the State.
The agreement followed a successful working visit by BENIPA’s management, led by its Founding Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Terhemen Johnpaul Kpenkaan, to BACT, where the team was received by the Director-General, Dr Shadrack Ukuma.
Dr Kpenkaan said the opportunity goes beyond promoting tourist sites or organising cultural events. The bigger task, he said, is to build a functioning Benue Visitor Economy in which more people and businesses earn whenever someone visits the State.
“When somebody comes to Benue and spends a night here, that value should reach beyond the hotel reception. The farmer supplying the kitchen, the driver, craft maker, performer, fashion designer, caterer, photographer, event organiser and young entrepreneur should all have an opportunity to earn from that visit.”
He said this approach aligns with the development aspirations of His Excellency, Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, particularly the Benue State Government 's 10-year Development Plan 2025–2034, which seeks to unlock the State’s human and natural endowments through enterprise, investment, resource mobilisation and stronger private-sector participation.
Dr Kpenkaan pointed to several opportunities that could be developed more deliberately.
He cited the potential to reposition A’nger beyond its cultural significance into a premium Benue fashion and heritage proposition built around authentic weaving, contemporary design, local value addition and stronger market access.
He also highlighted Kwagh-hir and other Benue cultural performances and festivals, noting the opportunity to preserve their authenticity while professionally packaging selected experiences for contemporary Nigerian and international audiences through performances, festivals, exhibitions, digital content and cultural tourism.
In tourism, he pointed to the need for structured assessment of destinations such as Ikyogen for possible eco-tourism, recreation and destination development, subject to environmental, community, land and commercial considerations.
Dr Kpenkaan also drew attention to the untapped potential of the River Benue waterfront in Makurdi.
“We have a great river running through our capital. It should not only be something we cross from one side of Makurdi to another. Properly planned, and subject to the necessary environmental, safety and commercial assessments, it can become part of the experience of visiting the city.”
He said opportunities could potentially emerge around waterfront leisure, food and beverage, recreation, entertainment, cultural programming and hospitality.
On hospitality, the BENIPA Executive Secretary said revitalising major assets such as the Sheraton Hotel complex in Makurdi, subject to proper legal, commercial and asset assessment, could strengthen the city’s capacity for conferences, investment meetings, exhibitions, cultural festivals, sporting events and business tourism.
According to him, these opportunities should not be developed in isolation.
“That is what we mean by a visitor economy. We are not looking at a hotel, a cultural performance, a textile, a riverfront or a tourism destination as separate ideas. We are asking how they can work together to give people reasons to come to Benue, reasons to stay longer, and opportunities for Benue people to earn from every additional day they stay.”
Dr Kpenkaan stressed that BACT remains the sector custodian, responsible for determining what Benue should preserve, promote and develop in arts, culture and tourism, while BENIPA will support the investment-development side of suitable opportunities.
“BACT owns the sector purpose. BENIPA helps build the commercial pathway.”
He added that investment promotion must remain evidence-led.
“An asset does not become investable merely because Government owns it, and an investor does not become suitable merely because it expresses interest. We must first understand the asset, the market, the investment requirement, the risks and the public interest before determining the appropriate transaction.”
BENIPA proposed the development of a Benue Tourism, Hospitality, Culture and Creative Economy Investment Pipeline, beginning with a small number of priority opportunities that can be screened and prepared for possible private-sector participation.
Responding, BACT Director-General, Dr Shadrack Ukuma, welcomed the initiative and expressed the Bureau’s commitment to working closely with BENIPA to unlock greater investment and economic value across the sector.
Dr Ukuma described the collaboration as a positive development and affirmed BACT’s readiness to work with BENIPA in identifying and developing credible opportunities across arts, culture, tourism and hospitality.
The engagement marks a shift from simply identifying Benue’s cultural and tourism potential towards the more practical task of preparing opportunities that can attract credible investors, strengthen enterprises, preserve the State’s cultural identity and create measurable economic value for its people.
