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.
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. Mr. Anya Godwin was separately screened and confirmed as a member of the Benue State House of Assembly Service Commission during the same plenary.
Hon. Chief Solomon Terver Iorpev is a seasoned broadcaster, media strategist and public communications expert with more than two decades of experience. He currently serves as Technical Adviser to Governor Alia on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communication and is the pioneer Director-General of the Benue State Signage and Advertisement Agency. He previously served as Acting Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and has held editorial and production positions at Radio Benue, Radio Nigeria and the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria. 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.
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. She also served as Chairman/Coordinator of the National Poverty Eradication Programme in Ado LGA and as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor. Her political career includes becoming a Member-Elect of the Benue State House of Assembly representing Ado Constituency in 1997. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Personnel Management and a Diploma in Purchasing and Supply from Benue State University, Makurdi.
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, he has been involved in youth skills development and entrepreneurship, with his enterprises training 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. He has also served as President of the Benue Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
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. He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Benue State University, Makurdi, and is pursuing a degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution at the National Open University of Nigeria.
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. He has worked as a Project/Field Geologist and consultant on water and sanitation projects, including UNICEF-supported interventions, and has participated in training rural water and sanitation personnel across several states. In public service, he served as Vice Chairman of Oju Local Government Council in 2024.
Hon. Nick Eworo is a prominent Benue politician, businessman and community leader from Obi Local Government Area. He holds an MBA from Bayero University, Kano, and began his professional career in the private sector with Bendel Feeds and Flour Mills, rising to General Manager, Northern Region. He was elected twice to the Benue State House of Assembly representing Obi State Constituency, where he served as Deputy Majority Leader. Under Governor Alia’s first-term administration, he was appointed Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation.
Hon. Amo Ankwa II (Hon. Amo II Albertson Aondonengen Ankwa) is a politician, administrator and grassroots leader from Logo Local Government Area. 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 Alia on Urban Development. He 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.
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.
