The Students Union Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi join to celebrate his Royal Majesty. Orchivirigh prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse on his coronation of the Tor Tiv v.
His Royal Majesty , Orchivirigh Professor James Ortese Ayatse, Tor Tiv V-elect (born 12 May 1956) from Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State in central Nigeria is a Nigerian Academic and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi and the Federal University, Dutsin-Ma respectively who is the newly elected paramount ruler of Tiv Nation and will serve as Tor Tiv V when sworn in, succeeding his predecessor, His Royal Highness, Orchivirigh Late Dr. Alfred Akawe Torkula, Tor Tiv IV who ruled between 1991 and 2015 until his demise on 22 November 2015
Ayatse was elected on Tuesday, 20 December 2016 by the Kingmakers of his subjects after a meeting of the Tiv Supreme Council known as “Ijirtamen” held at the chambers of the Tiv Traditional Council at Gboko, a town recognized as the Traditional Headquarters of the Tiv people who are believed to be the 4th largest ethnic group in Nigeria.
Prior to becoming Tor Tiv V, Ayatse, a famed academic became a professor of Biochemistry in his late thirties and would later serve as the Vice Chancellor in two separate Federal universities between 2001 – 2006 and 2011 – 2016 respectively, making him only the first Tiv man to do so. As Tor Tiv V, Ayatse is also the first Tiv man to ever rule his subjects as a Professor.
In contrast with his predecessors who took Oath of Office for the Tor Tiv Throne swearing by the ancestral “Swem”, Ayatse said in an interview preceding his election that he would swear by the Christian Bible if elected, affirming that he was a Christian. With this, he will go on to become the first Tor Tiv to take Oath of Office using the Bible.
President Akpehe Isaac Luper SUP congratulated the newly elected Paramount Ruler, stating that Prof. Ayatse’s emergence as the paramount ruler of the Tiv people, is an affirmation of his strength of character, integrity, and moral authority, garnered over the years as a lecturer, erudite scholar and administrator
In the year 2001, Professor James Ayatse was appointed the Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi succeeding Prof. Erastus Gyang. Reflecting on this in an interview preceding his emergence as Tor Tiv V, Ayatse stated that he inherited a student population of about 2000 and fluctuating cases of violent students’ demonstrations as well as staff union strikes, all of which he helped resolved amicably as the Vice Chancellor of the School. This earned him the reputation as the most peace loving Vice Chancellor of the Institution as there was no student demonstrations arising from internal problems throughout his tenure. He expanded the University by establishing several new departments and colleges that yielded students’ population of about 7000 before the end of his five-year tenure as the Vice Chancellor
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