Akase promises to empower Benue youths through ICT

Peoples Democratic Party, PDP 2023 governorship aspirant in Benue State, Mr Terver Akase says, if elected, his administration will utilize the abundant opportunities in Information and Communications Technology, ICT to create jobs for the youths.

Mr Akase stated this today when he featured on Radio Benue live interactive programme ‘Area Matter’.

The immediate past Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said ICT remains one of the greatest tools for employment and wealth creation, stressing that youths of Benue State are among the most active people on social media who would gladly embrace the opportunities on the internet to earn a living and be employers.

Mr Akase commended Governor Samuel Ortom for initiating a bill which was sent to State House of Assembly for the establishment of Benue Information Technology Development Agency, BITDA, to warehouse and drive the state’s policy formulation and implementation in the ICT sector.

He also lauded Governor Ortom for setting up the Benue State Information and Communications Technology Council earlier this year to serve as an advisory body for the development and use of ICT in the state.

The PDP guber hopeful gave assurance that he would build on the Governor’s initiatives in the sector to make youths of the state self-reliant.

On agriculture, Mr Akase said he would collaborate with relevant stakeholders and development partners to encourage young entrepreneurs in the state to take advantage of the agric value chain from cultivation through production, collection, processing, packaging to marketing.

He promised to sustain the current incentives given to farmers, such as subsidies on fertilizer and farm machinery, to enable them improve on their productivity.

On security, he condemned the sustained attacks on Benue people by Fulani herdsmen; a situation he said has led to the loss of many lives and adversely affected food production in parts of the state.

Mr Akase promised to uphold the full enforcement of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law enacted by the Ortom administration.

The erstwhile spokesman for the Governor commended Benue youths for always showing maturity in times of crisis, urging them to remain law abiding and support government to provide security for lives and property.