The Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), under the leadership of its Group Managing Director, Dr. Raymond Asemaka, has taken another significant step toward repositioning Benue State as an investment destination by leading foreign investors on an inspection tour of the historic Ikyu (Ikwe) Wildlife and Mountain Resort in Gwer East Local Government Area.
Nestled within the picturesque hills and rock formations of Gwer East, the Ikyu Wildlife and Mountain Resort is one of Benue State’s most treasured natural assets. Established during the administration of the state’s first civilian governor, Aper Aku, in the early 1980s, the resort was conceived as part of a broader vision to make Benue a leading eco-tourism destination in Nigeria. The facility once featured comfortable chalets, a conference hall, lawn tennis courts, recreational pavilions, nature trails, power facilities, and a wildlife reserve that hosted antelopes, hyenas, rare bird species, and other indigenous wildlife. Over the years, however, inadequate funding, poor maintenance, and a lack of sustained investment led to the gradual decline of what was once a thriving tourism destination.
Under the administration of Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Benue State is witnessing a deliberate shift from merely managing public assets to revitalizing them through strategic investments and public-private partnerships. Rather than allowing abandoned industries and public infrastructure to remain dormant, the administration is creating an enabling environment for private and foreign investors to unlock their economic value. The planned revival of the Ikyu Wildlife and Mountain Resort is another clear example of this vision. By partnering with investors instead of relying solely on government funding, the state is laying the foundation for a modern eco-tourism destination capable of attracting visitors, conferences, researchers, and adventure seekers from across Nigeria and beyond.
This initiative aligns with Governor Alia’s broader economic agenda, which has already seen efforts to revive long-neglected state-owned industries and commercial assets. Through BIPC, abandoned investments are gradually being transformed into productive enterprises capable of generating revenue, stimulating economic growth, and reducing dependence on government allocations. The economic benefits of restoring the Ikyu Resort could be far-reaching. During construction and redevelopment, hundreds of employment opportunities are expected to be created for engineers, artisans, suppliers, transporters, and construction workers. Once operational, the resort will provide sustainable jobs for hotel staff, tour guides, wildlife conservation officers, security personnel, event managers, maintenance workers, farmers, and local entrepreneurs supplying food, crafts, and other services.
Beyond direct employment, the project has the potential to stimulate rural development in Gwer East by improving road infrastructure, electricity, telecommunications, and other essential services. Increased tourism activity would also boost local businesses, create new markets for agricultural produce, and encourage further private investments across the region. The on-site inspection led by Dr. Raymond Asemaka sends a strong message that Benue is open for business. It demonstrates a commitment to transforming neglected public assets into commercially viable ventures that create wealth, attract investment, and improve the quality of life for the people.
As Governor Hyacinth Alia continues to reshape Benue’s economic landscape through industrial revitalization, infrastructure development, and investment-driven policies, projects like the Ikyu (Ikwe) Wildlife and Mountain Resort represent more than the restoration of abandoned facilities—they symbolize a renewed vision for a prosperous Benue where dormant assets become engines of economic growth, tourism, and sustainable job creation for present and future generations.
