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Professor Jerry Agada (born Jerry Anthony Agada , 11 November 1952 – 22 December 2020) was a Nigerian educationist, scholar, author, chairman of
Benue State Benue is a State in the North Central Nigeria, North Central region of Nigeria. It is popularly referred to as part of the Middle belt. It has an estimated population of about 4,253,641 in List of Nigerian states by population, the 2006 census. ...
Civil Service Commission, former president of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), the first Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors in Central Nigeria, the vice-chairman of Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko and former minister of state for Education of the Federal republic of Nigeria. He is known for writings with the publication of his first book, ''The Magic year'' – poetry in prose and rhymes, in 1996 and followed that book with another in 1998, ''The Secret Deal'', a collection of stories, ''Rage and Tears, Orokam: A Roadmap for Socio-Economic & Political Advancement'', ''Holy Land: Encounters and Symbolism'' and ''Web of Convictions''. He won the accolade of Academic Person of the year 2016 from Idoma Governor Support Group and the best author by Association of Nigerian Authors.


Early life and education

Born on 11 November 1952 at Orokam in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of
Benue State Benue is a State in the North Central Nigeria, North Central region of Nigeria. It is popularly referred to as part of the Middle belt. It has an estimated population of about 4,253,641 in List of Nigerian states by population, the 2006 census. ...
, Jerry Agada started his educational journey at Joseph's Primary School, Orokam, Benue State, from 1959 to 1965, and to St. Francis Secondary School, Otukpo Benue State, between 1966 and 1970. He proceeded to Kaduna Polytechnic, C.A.B.S
Kaduna State Kaduna (, جىِهَر كَدُنا; مدينة كدونا; , ; ) is a States of Nigeria, state in the northwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The state capital is its namesake, the city of Kaduna (city), Kaduna, which was the List of Nigerian ...
in 1971 and after graduating from there in 1973 he attended the National Technical Teachers College, Yaba,
Lagos State Lagos State (, ) is a States of Nigeria, state in South West, Nigeria. Of the 36 States of Nigeria, Nigerian states, Lagos is the second List of Nigerian states by population, most populous state but the List of Nigerian states by area, smallest ...
, between 1973 and 1974 for the Technical Teacher's Certificate in Commerce. Between 1979 and 1981, he was also at the
University of Exeter The University of Exeter is a research university in the West Country of England, with its main campus in Exeter, Devon. Its predecessor institutions, St Luke's College, Exeter School of Science, Exeter School of Art, and the Camborne School of ...
(MARJONS), Plymouth, United Kingdom, where he obtained a Bachelor of Education degree (English). He also earned a Master of Commerce in Marketing from the
University of Strathclyde The University of Strathclyde () is a public research university located in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1796 as the Andersonian Institute, it is Glasgow's second-oldest university, having received its royal charter in 1964 as the first techn ...
, Glasgow, Scotland, in 1984 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Sector Management from the Post Graduate School, Staton University, Tampa, Florida, United States, in 2003. He was also at the
University of Birmingham The University of Birmingham (informally Birmingham University) is a Public university, public research university in Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Queen's College, Birmingham (founded in 1825 as ...
, School of Public Policy in October 2003 for the Certificate in Management Contracting & Partnership for Service Delivery.


Career

He started his career in 1974 as classroom teacher in charge of Business Education subjects in Government College, Keffi. He was there until 1977, when he relocated to Government College, Makurdi, in 1977 following the creation of
Benue State Benue is a State in the North Central Nigeria, North Central region of Nigeria. It is popularly referred to as part of the Middle belt. It has an estimated population of about 4,253,641 in List of Nigerian states by population, the 2006 census. ...
. He served as Commissionaire with the Nigerian High Commission, London between 1982 and 1983. Upon his return to Nigeria, he was posted to Army Day Secondary School, Abakpa, Enugu, for the
National Youth Service Corps The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a mandatory, post-tertiary scheme set up by the Nigerian government during the military regime of Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, to "reconstruct, reconcile and rebuild the country after the Nigerian ...
. He returned to Government College, Makurdi, in 1985 as Head, Business Studies. By 1987, he had become Vice Principal (Administration) of the college. He also acted as the Principal of the college between 1987 and 1988, when he was formally appointed Principal of the college. He was in that position until 1992, when he was elevated to the position of Guidance Counselor and Principal Special Grade at the Headquarters of the Benue State Teaching Service Board. He was transferred to Government College, Utonkon in 1993 as Principal Special Grade. He held that position until 1996 when he was appointed the Executive Secretary, Benue State Examinations Board. By 1999, Agada was again elevated to the position of Permanent Secretary, Benue State Ministry of Information, Youth, Sports and Culture. He also served in the same capacity in the Ministry of Education, Benue State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Benue State Bureau of Political Affairs. Upon his retirement from the Civil Service of Benue State, he joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and sought election to the office of the Governor of Benue State. He lost the bid; however, he later emerged as the Minister of State for Education, Federal Republic of Nigeria, in July 2007. He left the Ministerial position in October 2008 but by March 2009, he was appointed as the chairman, Governing Board of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Abuja. In 2013, the European American University, Commonwealth of Dominica now an affiliate of the Western Orthodox University, appointed him as a Visiting Professor in Education. He was also chairman of the Advisory Board, Presidential Schools Debate, Nigeria, from 2013, Vice-chairman, Advisory Board of the Nigeria Prize for Literature of the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) since 2009. and chairman, Governing Council, Eastern Polytechnic, Port Harcourt since August 2015. In 2016, he was appointed Member Governing Council, Fidei Polytechnic Gboko, Benue State. In November 2016, he was appointed Chairman of the Benue State Civil Service Commission.Dr. Obasi, "Thoughts on Jerry Agada," (2). Daily Champion, 24 January 2007 Agada was a Fellow of the British Society of Commerce, Member, Institute of Marketing and Member, Nigeria Association of Business Educators, Member, Nigeria Association of Educational Administration and Planning. He was also a Fellow of the Association of Nigerian Authors, a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management and of the Institute of Industrialist and Corporate Administration. In February 2012, he was selected as one of fifty men of integrity in Nigeria by the editorial board of the Guardian Newspaper of Nigeria. On 17 August 2017, he was honoured with the title of Africa's Patriotic Personality of the Year by the African Students Union Parliament, (ASUP). Agada held several other positions in government and associations. He was the Chairman of the Benue State Petroleum Monitoring Committee between 1999 and 2000 and Member of the Benue State Reform Team between 2001 and 2006. He was also the Secretary General, National Orokam-Aroji Summit from 1992 to 1999 and chairman of the boardof Zion Micro-Finance Bank, Makurdi between 2006 and 2008. He was a former National President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) and patron of its branch in Benue State. In November 2015, his Orokam Community in Ogbadibo LGA, honoured him with the Chieftaincy title of the Oyalobu 1 of Orokam – meaning "The Pacesetter" within the Community. He was conferred with the title of "Omachi Onu Egume of Egume by the Igala Area Traditional council in 2008.


Selected books

*''The Secret Deal and Other Stories'' (1998) *''Rage and Tears'' (2002) *''The Soothsayer'' (2003) *''The Secret Deal'' (2003) *''The Honourable Chairman'' (2003) *''The Magic Year: (a Poetry in Prose and Rhymes)'' *''The Successors'' (2007)


Death

Agada died on 22 December 2020, after a brief illness.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agada, Jerry 1952 births 20th-century Nigerian educators Academic staff of the University of Nigeria Alumni of the University of Exeter Alumni of the University of Strathclyde Bethune–Cookman University alumni Education ministers of Nigeria Idoma people Living people People from Benue State University of Calabar people