By: Titus Akor, Makurdi.

The Benue State House of Assembly has screened and confirmed seven nominees as commissioners and approved the nomination of Mr. Anya Godwin as a member of the Benue State House of Assembly Service Commission.

The confirmations were made during Wednesday’s plenary presided over by Speaker, Rt. Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga, following the letter of nomination forwarded by Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, to the House.

Those confirmed as commissioners are: Hon. Chief Solomon Terver Iorpev, Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Onma Ogenyi, Hon. Kuma Aii Yenge,
Hon. Roy Ashirga Terna, Hon. Angwa Egbe Monday, Hon. Nick Eworo, and Hon. Amo Ankwa II.

SOLOMON TERVER IORPEV

Hon. Chief Solomon Terver Iorpev, a seasoned broadcaster, media strategist, and public communications expert, brings more than two decades of experience in journalism, strategic communication and public service to the State Executive Council.

He currently serves as Technical Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication and is the pioneer Director-General of the Benue State Signage and Advertisement Agency.

Chief Iorpev previously served as Acting Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia and has held various editorial and production positions at Radio Benue, Radio Nigeria and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria.

His career has covered broadcasting, public accountability, healthcare, security and governance reporting. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and a Master’s degree in Mass Communication/Public Relations from Benue State University, Makurdi, and is currently pursuing a PhD.

ELIZABETH ONMA OGENYI

Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Onma Ogenyi is a grassroots politician and administrator from Igumale in Ado Local Government Area.

She served as Chairman of Ado Local Government Council and previously held positions as Supervisory Councillor for Revenue and Finance.

Ogenyi also served as Chairman/Coordinator of the National Poverty Eradication Programme in Ado LGA and as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor with liaison responsibilities.

Her political career includes becoming a Member-Elect of the Benue State House of Assembly representing Ado Constituency in 1997 under the then-defunct United Nigeria Congress Party.

She holds an Advanced Diploma in Personnel Management and a Diploma in Purchasing and Supply from Benue State University, Makurdi, and has been actively involved in women mobilisation and community development.

KUMA AII YENGE

Hon. Kuma Aii Yenge is a businessman, entrepreneur and industrialist from Buruku Local Government Area.

He is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director of Max Woody Group, with interests in furniture manufacturing, technology, welding and fabrication.

With more than three decades of private-sector experience, Yenge has also been involved in youth skills development and entrepreneurship. His profile indicates that his enterprises have trained more than 500 people.

He holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Technology from Norfolk State University, United States, and an MBA from the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

Yenge has also served as President of the Benue Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, member of the Benue State Economic Team and President of the Boys’ Brigade Nigeria, Benue State Council.

ROY ASHIRGA TERNA

Hon. Roy Ashirga Terna is an administrator and grassroots politician from Tarka Local Government Area.

He started his career as a teacher with the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board before venturing into politics and public administration.

He served as an elected councillor in Tarka LGA, Special Assistant to the Governor, Secretary of Tarka Local Government Council and Senior Legislative Aide at the National Assembly.

He later served as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Strategy and as Caretaker Committee Chairman of Tarka Local Government Council before becoming Gubernatorial Liaison Officer for the local government.

Roy holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Benue State University, Makurdi, and is currently pursuing a degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at the National Open University of Nigeria.

ANGWA EGBE MONDAY

Hon. Angwa Egbe Monday is a geologist and hydrogeology specialist with professional experience in groundwater development, water and sanitation, environmental services and project monitoring.

He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Geology and Hydrogeology from the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

Egbe has worked as a Project/Field Geologist and consultant on water and sanitation projects, including UNICEF-supported interventions. His responsibilities have included borehole surveys, geophysical investigations, project supervision, monitoring and evaluation.

He also participated in training rural water and sanitation personnel across Benue, Kaduna, Katsina and Kebbi States.

In public service, Egbe served as Vice Chairman of Oju Local Government Council in 2024 and has been involved in grassroots political mobilisation.

NICK EWORO

Rt. Hon. Nick Eworo is a prominent Benue politician, businessman and community leader from Obi Local Government Area of Benue State and a notable figure in Igede affairs.
He holds an MBA from Bayero University, Kano (BUK) and began his professional career in the private sector with Bendel Feeds and Flour Mills, where he rose from Sales Representative to General Manager, Northern Region. He also had interests in the haulage and transport business.

Eworo ventured into politics and was elected twice to the Benue State House of Assembly, representing Obi State Constituency. During his legislative career, he served as Deputy Majority Leader and became an influential voice on issues affecting his constituents and the Igede people.

Under Governor Hyacinth Alia’s first-term administration, Eworo was appointed Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, serving as a member of the Governor’s first cabinet.

AMO ANKWA II

Hon. Amo II Albertson Aondonengen Ankwa, JP, FIPAM, is a politician, administrator and grassroots leader from Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

He has extensive experience in local government and state administration, having served as an elected Councillor, Supervisory Councillor and later Chairman of Logo Local Government Council from 2019 to 2020. He also served as Special Assistant to the Governor on Administration at the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and as Principal Special Assistant to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Urban Development.

Ankwa holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Benue State University, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Government Administration and Management and a Diploma in Law.

He has been actively involved in youth empowerment, cooperative development and grassroots mobilisation and has received several awards for leadership and community development.

ANYA GODWIN

Mr. Anya Godwin was separately screened and confirmed as a member of the Benue State House of Assembly Service Commission.

His confirmation was approved during the same plenary presided over by Speaker Berger Alfred Emberga.

The latest confirmations strengthen both the executive and legislative administrative structures of the state, with the new commissioners expected to contribute their respective experience and expertise to the implementation of the Alia administration’s development agenda.