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Members of the Benue State House of Assembly Committee on Culture and Tourism, on Monday, December 15, 2025, undertook a familiarization and oversight visit to the Bureau for Arts, Culture, and Tourism in Makurdi. The visit came shortly after the recent reconstitution of some standing committees in the House and was aimed at enabling the lawmakers to better understand the operations of the bureau under its current leadership.
Led by its Vice Chairman, Rt. Honourable Michael Audu, the committee described the tour as part of its constitutional oversight responsibility. The lawmakers expressed appreciation to Governor Hyacinth Alia for appointing the current Director General and used the opportunity to interact directly with the bureau’s leadership. They sought to assess the progress achieved since the appointment, identify ongoing challenges hindering optimal performance, and explore potential areas where the Assembly could intervene to support the bureau’s mandate.
In his response, the Director General of the Bureau, Shadrach Teryila Ukuma, Ph.D., warmly welcomed the committee members and commended them for the visit. He highlighted both the successes recorded during his short tenure and the challenges that, with concerted efforts, could position the bureau for significant advancement. Dr. Ukuma expressed eagerness to collaborate with the committee to realize the full vision and mission of the bureau, emphasizing that its programs depend heavily on adequate funding appropriations from the House.
Among the key achievements shared were the development of a bureau website featuring a virtual portal for its museum, near-completion of digital onboarding for about 80 percent of hotels in the state, the launch of the vibrant Benue tag line that has revived monthly cultural variety night shows, and the signing of a $15 million Memorandum of Understanding with Circuit for a Benue Creative Industries fund. The Director General also briefed the committee on ongoing efforts to establish a new Makurdi zoological garden, revisit MoUs with Benue Hotel and Makurdi International Hotel for their revitalization, and domesticate the reviewed national tourism policy.
He further appealed for legislative support in regularizing casual staff, repairing broken-down vehicles to improve mobility, renovating the twin theatres at the Aminu Isah Kontagora Arts Theatre Complex, completing the office complex, and providing clear delineation of the bureau’s assets.
The visit featured a guided tour of the bureau’s facilities, with committee members assuring maximum cooperation to ensure smooth administrative operations and greater impact in promoting Benue’s rich cultural heritage and tourism potential. The engagement underscores the harmonious working relationship between the legislative and executive arms in driving cultural preservation and tourism development in the state.
Saaniyol Ezekiel Akiga
Chief Information Officer, BACT.
