A former student of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Andrea Duru, has called on Benue electorate to cast their votes for the governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Prof Terhemba Shija, during the 2027 general election.
Duru, in an open piece addressed to the people of Benue State, which was made available to THE WHISTLER, recalled that Prof Shija taught her during her undergraduate days, as well as during her Master’s degree.
She wrote, “He is one of the most remarkable scholars I have encountered from Benue State. During my undergraduate studies, Prof Shija was exceptionally committed to his lectures. He hardly ever missed a lecture and was always conscious of time. More importantly, he made deliberate efforts to ensure that his students understood what he was teaching. He is disciplined, intellectually grounded and remarkably broad-minded. His worldview and perspective on life often went beyond what one would ordinarily expect.”
She wrote that beyond Shija’s academic abilities, his genuine concern for his students was exceptional. According to her, towards the end of her MA defence, she was asked to consult additional material for her dissertation, which was difficult for her, having been married and living in Lagos.
“Prof Shija willingly gave me some textbooks from his personal collection so that I could take them back to Lagos, study them and incorporate the relevant points into my dissertation. That gesture deeply touched me. These were not ordinary books; they were part of his personal collection. Yet he was willing to make them available to me simply because he wanted to see me succeed.”
She continued, “Prof Shija is an avid reader and a very liberal-minded scholar. His intellectual interests are broad, and despite his engagement with the theories of thinkers, such as Sigmund Freud and other major scholars, he firmly maintains his belief in the existence of God Almighty.
“One thing I have observed about him over the years is his desire to see people succeed. That quality, perhaps more than anything else, is what I remember about him as a student,” Duru stated.
She said she shared her experience “not because anyone asked me to, but because I have an uncontrollable desire to tell people what I personally know about Prof Shija from the perspective of someone who once sat in his classroom”.
She further stated that, “If you passed through his tutelage, you would understand why I hold such a strong personal regard for him. My experience of him has been that of a disciplined teacher, a knowledgeable scholar, a generous mentor and someone who genuinely wants his students to succeed. This is my personal testimony about a teacher who made a lasting impression on me and whose intellectual and personal qualities I have continued to remember long after leaving his classroom.”
She therefore said Benue people “deserve a leader like Prof Terhemba Shija: someone with knowledge, discipline, compassion and a genuine commitment to helping people succeed”.
(The Whistler)
