James Ayatse

Author: SimeonKing

His Royal Majesty, Orchivirigh, Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, Tor Tiv V, also known as Tor Tiv the fifth, was born on May 12, 1956 (68 years), in the Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State in central Nigeria. He is a distinguished Nigerian academic who holds the position of Paramount Ruler/King of the Tiv Nation. He also serves as the president of the Tiv Area Traditional Council and is the chairman of the Benue State Council of Chiefs. He is currently married to Felicia Hembadoon and together they have Five(5) children. On 13th April, 2024, The Ijii Tamen, led by the Tor Tiv issued a declaration that abolished the practice of holding festivities in the house of the girl’s parents popularly known as Traditional Marriage involving cutting of cake, dances, parties, in an attempt to revive the Tiv culture, HRM, professor James Ayatse, reffered to this as borrowed tradition. He also limited the bride price and other marriage rites to a hundred thopusand naira and below.

Before assuming his role as the Tor Tiv V, Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse had a notable career in academia. He achieved the rank of professor in biochemistry in his late thirties and went on to serve as the vice chancellor of two different Federal universities between 2001 and 2006 and then from 2011 to 2016. His accomplishments in this regard made him the first Tiv man to hold such prestigious positions.

James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse was elected as Tor Tiv V on December 20, 2016, and was formally crowned by the Kingmakers on March 4, 2017, following a meeting of the Tiv Supreme Council known as Ijir Tamen. This event took place at the Tiv Traditional Council chambers in Gboko, the Traditional Headquarters of the Tiv people, who are considered the fourth-largest ethnic group in Nigeria.

Notably, as Tor Tiv V, James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse made history by being the first Tiv ruler to hold the title while also being a professor. He succeeded Alfred Akawe Torkula, Tor Tiv IV, who had ruled from 1991 until his passing on November 22, 2015. In contrast to his predecessor, who took the Oath of Office for the Tor Tiv Throne by swearing on the ancestral “Swem,” Ayatse chose to use the Christian Bible for his oath, becoming only the second Tor Tiv to do so, following Tor Tiv III Akperan Orshi.

President Muhammadu Buhari congratulated James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse on his ascension to the role of paramount ruler of the Tiv people. The President acknowledged that Ayatse’s selection was a testament to his character, integrity, and moral authority, which he had earned over the years through his career as a lecturer, erudite scholar, and administrator.

Early Life

James Ayatse’s early life began in Mbakaan, Shangev-Ya, Kwande Local Government Area in the North-Eastern region of Benue State. He was born to parents Iorzua Ayatse and Adeior Iorzua (née Achaa, Mbarumun, Nanev). His educational journey started at LGEA School in Orbiam, Ikov, Ushongo Local Government Area. He later continued his primary education at LGEA School in Mbagbegba, Shangev-Ya, and St. Anne’s Primary School in Adikpo, where he successfully obtained his First School Leaving Certificate.

James Ayatse’s academic prowess led him to Government Secondary School in Gboko, where he graduated with a Division One certificate in the West African School Certificate (WASC). This achievement qualified him for admission to a university.

Subsequently, James Ayatse pursued higher education at the University of Ibadan, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry. His dedication to learning continued as he pursued a Master of Science degree at the University of Calabar. Following this, he furthered his academic journey by becoming a Commonwealth student at the University of Surrey in Guildford, United Kingdom. His extensive research and studies in biochemistry culminated in the attainment of a doctoral degree.

After completing his studies abroad, Tor Tiv James Ayatse returned to one of his former institutions, the University of Calabar, where he pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. His exceptional dedication to academia and significant contributions to the field of biochemistry eventually led to his appointment as a professor, marking him as the first Tiv man to achieve this distinguished academic rank.

Career

James Ayatse embarked on his career journey in 1980, commencing as a graduate assistant at the University of Calabar. With determination and dedication, he steadily progressed through the academic ranks and achieved the esteemed position of a professor of Biochemistry in 1993, an impressive accomplishment at the young age of 37. His career was marked by a diverse range of roles, spanning from teaching to education management.

Throughout his career, Ayatse imparted knowledge at various institutions, including the University of Calabar, University of Uyo, Benue State University, Makurdi, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, University of Abuja, and the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma. He taught a wide array of subjects, including biochemistry, Business Management, and Public Administration, nurturing numerous students who successfully earned B.Sc., M.Sc., MBA, MPA, and PhD degrees under his guidance during his over 35 years of teaching.

In addition to his teaching duties, Ayatse contributed significantly to the academic community by serving as an External Assessor for professional appointments and promotions, as well as an External Examiner for numerous universities. He chaired important committees at the national level, including the National Universities Committees responsible for performance indicators and minimum benchmarks for science programs in Nigerian universities. He also chaired various panels tasked with accrediting science programs in Nigerian universities. Moreover, he played essential roles in multiple community and governing boards at the international, national, and state levels. Notably, he was involved in shaping the vision and development blueprint for his home state of Benue on three separate occasions.

In 2001, Ayatse assumed the role of Vice Chancellor at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, succeeding Erastus Gyang. During his tenure, he faced challenges such as a student population of approximately 2000 and sporadic incidents of student demonstrations and staff union strikes. However, Ayatse’s adept leadership skills and commitment to peaceful resolution earned him the reputation as the most peace-loving Vice Chancellor of the institution. His visionary leadership expanded the university by establishing several new departments and colleges, resulting in a student population of about 7000 by the end of his five-year term.

In 2011, Ayatse was appointed as the inaugural Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, one of the nine Federal Universities established under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Ayatse achieved the distinction of being the first Vice Chancellor among these nine institutions to graduate students and prepare them for the Mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). He also successfully conducted the university’s maiden convocation ceremony during his tenure. His emphasis on modernization and technology paved the way for an ICT-driven university with computerized and online services. As a result, the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma received recognition from Webometrics, ranking as the 14th Best University in Nigeria in January 2015 and 2016, surpassing many older institutions.

Tor Tiv Coronation

Following his tenure as Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, James Ayatse entered a keenly contested election on Tuesday, December 20, 2016. The election featured three other contenders, including Daniel Saror, a former vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who secured three votes, Benedict Shinku, also with three votes, and Andrew Wombo, a lawyer, who received one vote. In the end, Ayatse emerged as the victor with an impressive 39 out of the possible 46 votes.

On March 4, 2017, James Ayatse was formally crowned as Tor Tiv V. The prestigious ceremony saw the presence of Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, who presented him with the Staff of Office, signifying his ascension to the throne.

Awards

In October 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari awarded James Ayatse the Nigerian national honor of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).

References:

1. DBpedia:
   “James Ayatse.” DBpedia, https://dbpedia.org/page/James_Ayatse.
2. Wikipedia:
   “James Ayatse.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Ayatse.
3. Nairaland:
   “James Ayatse’s Daughter, Doofan Ayatse.” Nairaland Forum, https://www.nairaland.com/4103894/james-ayatses-daughter-doofan-ayatse.
4. CelebsAgeWiki:
   “James Ayatse.” CelebsAgeWiki, https://www.celebsagewiki.com/james-ayatse.
5. BLERF (Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation):
   “Biography of Prof. James Ortese Ayatse.” BLERF, https://blerf.org/index.php/biography/ayatse-professor-james-ortese/.
6. Media Nigeria:
   “Biography of Prof. James Ayatse.” Media Nigeria, https://www.medianigeria.com/biography-of-prof-james-ayatse/.