By Nathaniel Nongu

“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery, today is a gift,” says an anonymous. Indeed, April 2nd, 1977 was history, years down the line, the same day is a gift as we celebrate an ace journalist, publicist, principled politician, technocrat, a refined gentleman and emerging visionary leader, Terver Akase who turns 45 today.

Until his inspiring entry into partisan politics and taking a shot at Benue State’s 2023 governorship seat, the name Terver Akase resonated on the airwaves of our country, where he brought uncommon excellence to bear as a broadcast journalist of repute.

From journalism through politics to general endeavours, Akase earns tremendous respect and has left no one in doubt about his steadfast flair for professionalism.

A Press Statement issued on Saturday by Nathaniel Nongu, Director, Media, Terver Akase Governorship Campaign Organization, described Terver
Akase as a gentleman with a good breadth of education. He graduated from the Benue State University where he earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Mass Communication and subsequently obtained Master’s Degrees in Mass Communication and another in International Relations and Strategic Studies respectively.

He is an alumnus of the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP), a singular honour he had among a select 16 African journalists fully sponsored by the government of the United States of America for critical leadership training and self development. This international engagement afforded Mr Akase the rare opportunity to learn the art and science of leadership and governance from key public offices and governmental institutions of the US democratic model.

Akase remains an accomplished gentleman whose humility, industry, dedication, and tenacity of focus and inspiring charisma, had placed him in positions of leadership and service previously, bringing superlative performance to bear on his stewardship.

While as a Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN Correspondent in Rivers State between 2008 and 2013, Akase earned the confidence of his colleagues who chose him to serve as the Chairman, Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Rivers State.

At the peak of militancy in the South-South region, Akase courageously excelled on his job winning laurels. Until being transferred in January 2014 to the FRCN headquarters, Abuja, Akase served as a Senior Editor in Enugu.

It was while at the FRCN headquarters that the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, appointed Mr Akase, first as his Senior Special Assistant on Media between September 2015 and January 2016 and from then as his Chief Press Secretary, a position in which he served meritoriously, until September 2021 when he voluntarily resigned to pursue his governorship ambition.

While he served for six years as Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Akase left an untainted record of service. Journalists who worked with him and many pundits have testified that Akase raised the bar of professionalism and excellence on the job and has become a reference point on modern image management. His grasp of issues and display of emotional intelligence as well as calm mien in the face of provocation, has been adjudged as rare attributes that endeared him to many as a spokesperson.

The consummate image maker is a member of several professional bodies among which are the global network of journalists called Investigative Reporters and Editors, IRE, and Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, with headquarters in the United States of America.

Akase’s aspiration which he passionately pursued on the Peoples Democratic Party platform to govern Benue State in 2023 came with clarity of vision, poise and impressive focus and many attested to his issue-based politics which has set a standard.

For many young Nigerians, Akase has removed the glass ceiling and established himself as a source of inspiration and beacon of hope politically and otherwise.

In its wisdom, the Peoples Democratic Party on whose platform Akase sought to govern Benue has now zoned the 2023 guber seat to Vandeikya local government area of the Jerchira bloc, and in his distinguishing manner, Akase has since accepted the party’s decision and expressed his readiness to support whoever the PDP chooses as its guber candidate. Again, by this move, Akase has set himself to be judged kindly by posterity.

At 45, Akase has stood himself out and is being counted for noble reasons which will ultimately lead to a tomorrow which is a mystery to humankind except God our heavenly father.

Forty-five hearty cheers to a visionary emerging leader!