Former Benue state Commissioner for Sports, Prof. Jacob Iba Omenka, is dead.
Omenka, a Professor of Political science, who was also a former commissioner for Rural Development and Cooperatives, passed on before midnight on Monday at Madonna Hospital, Makurdi, where he was rushed to about an hour earlier when he suddenly took ill.
According to information gathered, he was hale and hearty and was actively on the phone with friends and relations until evening when the sudden illness came.
Born on August 24, 1963, Omenka, Iba Jacob (PhD) completed his primary school education in 1977 at St. Mary’s Primary School, Otukpo, Benue State. He proceeded to St Joseph’s Secondary School, Ito, Benue State (my Alma Mata), for his secondary school education and graduated in 1982. He completed his Advance Level (A’L) education from the School of Basic Studies, Makurdi in 1984. At Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in Kaduna State, Nigeria, he studied English Language and graduated with Second Class Honours in 1987.
After the completion of the one-year compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with the Industrial Training Fund Headquarters, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria in 1988, he was employed as an Administrative Officer by Oju Local Government Council, Benue State of Nigeria in 1989. Prof. Omenka attended the famous Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and obtained Master of Public Administration (MPA) with special bias in Local Government Administration in 1993.
In July 1994, Prof. Omenka joined the service of the Benue State University Makurdi, Nigeria as an Administrative Officer. A year later, he made an inter-cadre transfer and became a lecturer in the Department of Political Science of the same University, where he rose through the ranks to become a Professor. He obtained a Doctoral (Ph.D.) Degree in Political Economy and Development Studies from the University of Jos, Nigeria in 2008. Prof. Omenka also attended a Leadership Course at the University of Manchester, Business School and obtained an Advanced Certificate in Leadership Training in 2012.
In the course of his working career, Prof. Omenka held several administrative and academic positions including: Area Development Officer, Oju LGC; Secretary, Examination Regulation and Irregularities Committee, Faculty and Departmental Examination Officer; Coordinator, Diploma in Personnel Management, and Business Manager, Nigerian Journal of Political and Administrative Studies. This is in addition to being a member of several University and Government Committees. He was Member/Secretary, Labour, Social Welfare and Women Affairs Sub-Committee, Benue Advance Plan: A Development Agenda of the Government of Benue State, under the administration of Governor George Akume. Secretary, Movement for the creation of Oyongo LGA, Benue State. Member, Constitution Review/Electoral Delimitation Committee, Benue State, as well as Member, Benue State Examinations Board, Makurdi.
He also served as the Sole Administrator of the College of Education Oju, Benue State. He was Commissioner, Youth and Sports between September 2010 and May 2011. During this period too, he was Chairman, NYSC Board, Benue State. He equally served as Commissioner, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Benue State between July 2011 and February 2013. He was the Chairman, Benue State Examinations Board, Makurdi between April 2014 and March 2016.
Prof Omenka was promoted the status of Professor in October, 2017. He was a visiting lecturer at the Kogi State University, Anyigba and also an External Examiner with Veritas University, Abuja; External Examiner with the University of Jos, in the Department of Political Science. In November 2018, he voluntarily left the services of Benue State University, Makurdi for Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, where he was until his death
