By Deborah Adekaa.
By December, Makurdi may have a new place where families can unwind, couples can celebrate, children can play and residents can simply take a break from the bustle of everyday life.
That is the promise behind the ongoing transformation of Macafa Park into The Galleria Park, a modern recreational facility expected to begin operations in December 2026.
The Group Managing Director of the Benue Investment and Property Company Limited (BIPC), Dr. Raymond Asemakaha, gave the assurance on Friday when he inspected construction work at the site.
Standing amid the ongoing work, Asemakaha said the vision was not merely to put up another building in Makurdi, but to create a destination that would give residents and visitors a reason to relax, connect and enjoy their time in the city.
The completed park is expected to offer a serene environment, complete with a waterfall and a 1,000-capacity event centre designed to host weddings, conferences, parties and other social gatherings.
For families, the park is also expected to become a holiday attraction where parents and children can spend quality time together while enjoying a variety of products made by companies under BIPC.
Beyond recreation, however, the project carries a bigger promise for Benue—the promise of jobs and economic opportunity.
According to Asemakaha, the park is projected to create more than 100 direct jobs and over 500 indirect employment opportunities for young people once it becomes fully operational.
He said the project was part of the broader effort by BIPC to revive dormant state assets and turn them into productive ventures capable of contributing to the state’s economic growth.
Asemakaha commended the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, for creating what he described as an enabling environment for BIPC to pursue the revival and development of state-owned assets.
He described BIPC as a special purpose vehicle and an engine for driving investment, economic growth and development across Benue.
But amid the excitement over what the park could offer, Asemakaha also used the occasion to draw attention to something he believes could be just as valuable as the project itself—skills.
Pointing to the Korean workers handling the construction, he encouraged young people in the state to take technical and construction-related skills seriously, noting that opportunities exist for those who are willing to learn and develop their abilities.
He also challenged the artisans working on the site to increase the pace of construction so that the December deadline would not be missed.
The leader of the Korean construction team, Kilm Kim Ann, assured BIPC management that the work would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
If that promise is kept, the countdown to December will bring more than the opening of another facility in Makurdi. It could mark the beginning of a new chapter for a space envisioned as a meeting point for leisure, celebration, family and enterprise.
And as the Christmas season approaches, many residents will be watching with interest to see whether the once-quiet space at Macafa Park will finally come alive as the vibrant Galleria Park promised by its developers.