The executive committee of the Benue State University Alumni Association has commended Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Dr. Samuel Ortom, for giving employment to graduates of the institution.
President of the association, Mr. Stephen Ijoh, made the commendation when he led members to pay a courtesy call on Chief Dr. Ortom in Makurdi.
Mr. Ijoh stated that the committee came to express solidarity with the minister’s achievements in the business and political landscape of Benue State especially the employment of youths including alumni in his companies in order to enable them earn a living.
He disclosed that the visit was part of plans by the association to mobilize alumnus and other relevant stakeholders to make contributions to the development of the university so that it could join the ranks of institutions rated by the International Standard Organization.
The President requested assistance to acquire a functional vehicle as well as patronage of the association’s consultancy services in order to enhance its capacity to contribute to infrastructural and intellectual development of the university.
According to him the association has concluded plans for a national summit on peace and conflict resolution and had embarked on an awareness creation exercise on the summit.
Chief Dr. Ortom expressed appreciation for the visit and sympathized with the association over the incidents of robberies and fire outbreak at the institution.
He described the Benue State University as a thriving industry that positively affected the fortunes of most families in the state and beyond and called on all well meaning people to rally round it in its trying moments.
The minister commended the association for the initiative to add value to the institution saying private sector contributions were needed to complement government efforts at developing the school and pledged his support.
Chief Dr. Ortom stated that if given the mandate to be governor of the state on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party he would turn infrastructural deficits into benefits through international best practices in all sectors especially in the areas of industrialization and solid mineral exploitation.