PROF. TONY IJOHOR’s yesterday today.

PROF. TONY IJOHOR’s yesterday today.

-by KiNG JAMES YiYE | Twitter: @KingYiye

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom recently announced the appointment of Professor Tony Ijohor, SAN as the new Secretary to State Government or SSG. One man spoken to says, this is one appointment nobody has anything bad to say.

ASKiNG RADiO Reporter King James Yiye visits Benue beginning from his ancestral home, Mbanev, Ipav in Gboko to find out the who, what, why, when and how of Professor Tony Ijohor

“Our son Tony is unique in so many ways, his kind heart is what I’ve never seen, can you see? He is building a Church for us and we are not Catholic, he is Catholic, but is building an NKST Church for us. God will keep on blessing him and blessing him and blessing him, he will never lack, where he removed the money must be filled up in millions…”

This is the expression from an old woman in her 80’s who spoke originally in Tiv language at the ongoing NKST Mbanev, Ipav building project embarked upon by Professor Tony Ijohor, SAN. She says before now, they were worshipping in the sun or would wait for the rain to dry up before worship would begin on Sunday morning during the rainy and wet season.

NKST Church Mbanev, Ipav is being constructed by Prof. Tony Ijohor

Worshipers sit under this tree

This Old Woman’s view is just one of the so many I’ve heard while speaking to the people of Mbanev in Ipav, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State and elsewhere in Gboko and Makurdi, the State Capital. 

These serve as pews for NKST Mbanev

Professor Tony Ijohor is doing many of such projects for the people of his State, a rare thing to do by many who only turn to quick profit making ventures.

The proposed Harry Pass Polytechnic Mkar, Benue State located in Professor Ijohor’s homeland is named after the Rev. Fr. Harry Pass,it is at advanced stage of construction on a land of well over 50 hectares. When completed, the Polytechnic will provide quality affordable education to thousands of people across Benue State and Nigeria. The main aim is to bring back vocational and profitable courses in an atmosphere suitable for the high population which has been hungry for such over the years.

Rev. Fr. Harry Pass was the first Principal of St. Michael’s Secondary School Korinya City now Aliade all in Benue State. He trained Tony Ijohor from a very humble beginning in life. Professor Ijohor tells me naming the polytechnic after Fr. Harry Pass is his little way in paying tribute to this great missionary.

Just by the entrance to Harry Pass Polytechnic Mkar construction site, a woman in her 50’s is selling fresh and packaged food items and other consumables displayed on a large table.

She tells me she is able to feed her family and meet most of her needs.

She believes her business will grow naturally with the commencement of academic activities at the Polytechnic.

Harry Pass Polytechnic Mkar 

Harry Pass Polytechnic Mkar 

Harry Pass Polytechnic Mkar 

This Woman tells me the community is already benefiting

Harry Pass Polytechnic Mkar apart from putting food on this woman's table has already changed the community's look. With modern buildings adding colour and warmth, the Polytechnic is already giving water to the community.

Harry Pass Polytechnic Guest House

Harry Pass Poly Guest House

Located at GRA Gboko, the HPP Guest House will take care of some accommodation needs for guests to the Polytechnic

Community commerce support

Professor Tony Ijohor has an eye on the development and promotion of trade and commerce in his home State; Benue the food basket of his country Nigeria.

The construction of a standard modern warehouse at Ameladu, a strategic business hub of Benue State demonstrates this.

The warehouse is built to accommodate farm produce which hitherto were wasted due to lack of storage facilities and lack of community awareness. It also has the capacity to be used for Agro-Allied purposes.

Professor Tony Ijohor, SAN plans to get professionals to do massive farmer education, including but not limited to the right time to harvest and the right time to sell or store.

Yesterday and today’s life

Anthony Aondoakaa Ijohor was born on June 14, 1963 at Gboko in Benue State, North Central Nigeria, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Tony Ijohor is a Professor of Law in the Department of International Law and Jurisprudence, Faculty of Law, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.

Professor Ijohor, began at St. John’s Primary School, Gboko in 1970. In 1975 Tony proceeded to Mount St. Gabriel Secondary School, Makurdi where he obtained the West African School Certificate; Division One, in 1980.

Tony Ijohor obtained a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LL.B) at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria or ABU, in 1985.

During the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps, he was a Lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the same ABU Zaria. Between 1987 and 2007 Tony Ijohor returned to Benue State for private practice. He was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), by the Legal Practitioners and Privileges Committee, on December 16, 2008. In June 2013, he was appointed Professor and Dean by the Council and Management of Baze University, Abuja to help build a formidable Faculty of Law in the University. Later in 2016 to return to Benue State University, Makurdi where he was appointed as the new Dean Faculty of Law.

While in Benue, Tony Ijohor did a Master of Laws (LL.M) Degree in 2004, Master of Science, International Relations and Strategic Studies (M.SC) in 2009 and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in 2011.

Professor Tony Ijohor, SAN has served the Government and people of Benue State in different capacities.

He was a Member, Benue State Judicial Service Commission between 2005 and 2007, he also served as Special Adviser to the Governor of Benue State on Investment from 2007 to 2009.

Professor Ijohor is a member of several professional bodies including Nigeria Bar Association, where he served as Chairman Makurdi Branch between 2004 and 2006.

He is member International Bar Association, member Institute of Transnational Arbitrators, USA and member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators United Kingdom.

Professor Tony Ijohor, SAN is a Negotiator, having attended at various times Oxford Programme on Negotiation, University of Oxford and Havard Programme on Negotiation at Havard Law School. 

Professor Tony Ijohor (SAN) is the principal partner, A. A. Ijohor (SAN) & CO., and has continued to offer landmark services as Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Home Relaxation

Professor Tony Ijohor, SAN enjoys spending his leisure and weekends at home with family and friends.

My visit to his homes in Gboko and Makurdi confirms further as many people have turned up to identify with their own. In Gboko, work on his home has also reached advanced stage in completion.  

Retirement Home

At Mbanev, Ipav, the ancestral home of Professor Tony Ijohor, work his residential home is going on. The people here are lovely and gave us a very warm reception, it is no wonder that their son has such a welcoming and humanitarian heart.

From what I see here, it further proves that Professor Tony Ijohor, SAN is a man who has a plan, a plan to fulfillment, a plan to perhaps bring the much needed change in people oriented governance.

Photo Credits:

KiNG JAMES YiYE

Elias Sesugh Abelaka

Logistics:

Geoffrey Akula

John Kuegh Gbaeren Chira aka JK

Terhemba Iorshe

(c) ASKiNG RADiO 2017