Prof. Shija was thrilled by Sen Akume's proposal to cause the Federal government to establish a cottage industry in each of the 774 Local government areas of the country, adding that the country has both the capacity and the natural resources to do so. 

"This is certainly how to seriously address the current economic imbalance and eradicate poverty in a country of extreme diversities," Shija explained.

Prof Shija also said Sen Akume's other initiative to cause the federal government to establish various local energy production spots including the manufacturing of stoves was an ingenious way of stopping the illegal felling of trees, preserving our ecosystem and eradicating greenhouse gas emissions. Such a move would gladly attract sponsorship from foreign donors, he said.

Recalling his days in office as commissioner under Akume as Governor of Benue State, Prof. Shija said the vast owner - occupier housing program Akume executed in the state is proof of the Minister's favourable disposition to the masses. He said that any meaningful economic program in a developing country with a huge mass unemployment rate must adopt the bottom-up strategy instead of the trickle-down model practiced in highly stratified capitalist societies.

Finally, Prof. Shija prayed that Akume should continue to excel in this onerous task of serving the poor and the helpless in all positions God grants him.