By Daniel Aondoaseer Zendesha 

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, August 19, 2026, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga, following a letter of nomination forwarded to the Assembly by Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia.

The development expands the membership of the state’s executive council while also filling a position within the legislative administrative structure.

Seven Nominees Confirmed

The newly confirmed 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

Hon. Amo II Albertson Aondonengen Ankwa

Separately, the Assembly confirmed Mr. Anya Godwin as a member of the Benue State House of Assembly Service Commission.

Solomon Terver Iorpev: Media and Strategic Communications

Chief Solomon Terver Iorpev brings more than two decades of experience spanning broadcasting, journalism, strategic communication and public service.

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

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

His professional experience includes reporting and communication on governance, healthcare, security and public accountability.

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: Grassroots Politics and Administration

Mrs. Elizabeth Onma Ogenyi, from Igumale in Ado Local Government Area, has experience in local government administration and grassroots politics.

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

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

Her political career also 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.

Kuma Aii Yenge: Business and Industrial Development

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

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

According to the profile submitted to the Assembly, Yenge has more than three decades of private-sector experience and has been involved in youth skills development and entrepreneurship, with his enterprises reported to have trained more than 500 people.

He holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Technology from Norfolk State University in the 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, a member of the Benue State Economic Team and President of the Boys’ Brigade Nigeria, Benue State Council.

Roy Ashirga Terna: Public Administration and Local Governance

Hon. Roy Ashirga Terna, from Tarka Local Government Area, has a background in teaching, local government administration and politics.

He began his career as a teacher with the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board before serving as an elected councillor in Tarka LGA.

His public service experience includes positions as Special Assistant to the Governor, Secretary of Tarka Local Government Council, Senior Legislative Aide at the National Assembly and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Strategy.

He also served as Caretaker Committee Chairman of Tarka Local Government Council and later as Gubernatorial Liaison Officer for the local government.

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

Angwa Egbe Monday: Water, Sanitation and Environmental Expertise

Hon. Angwa Egbe Monday is a geologist and hydrogeology specialist with 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 experience includes borehole surveys, geophysical investigations, project supervision, monitoring and evaluation.

He has 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: Former Commissioner Returns to Cabinet

Rt. Hon. Nick Eworo is a politician, businessman and community leader from Obi Local Government Area and a prominent figure in Igede affairs.

He holds an MBA from Bayero University, Kano, 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 later ventured into haulage and transport before entering politics.

Eworo was elected twice to the Benue State House of Assembly representing Obi State Constituency. During his legislative career, he served as Deputy Majority Leader.

He previously served as Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation during the first term of the Alia administration.

His latest confirmation therefore marks a return to the state executive council.

Amo Ankwa II: Local Government and Grassroots Experience

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

He has served as an elected councillor, Supervisory Councillor and Chairman of Logo Local Government Council between 2019 and 2020.

Ankwa 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.

His profile also highlights involvement in youth empowerment, cooperative development and grassroots mobilisation.

Anya Godwin Confirmed for Assembly Service Commission

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 Service Commission plays a key administrative role in the functioning of the state legislature, including matters relating to the Assembly’s workforce and institutional administration.

What the Confirmations Mean for Benue

The latest appointments bring together professionals with backgrounds in media and strategic communication, local government administration, business and industrial development, geology and water services, politics and public administration.

The nominees will now be expected to translate their respective experience into policy and administrative responsibilities within the Alia administration.

For Benue residents, the key issue will ultimately be how the new commissioners perform in their assigned portfolios and whether their experience translates into measurable improvements in governance and service delivery.

The confirmations also place renewed attention on the administration’s development agenda and its ability to coordinate the executive and legislative arms of government effectively.

The information in this report is based on the press release issued by Zape Michael Upaa, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, dated August 19, 2026.