Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Terver Akase, Monday successfully defended his Doctorate (PhD) in Political Science at the Reverend Father Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, formerly Benue State University.
Speaking at the reception shortly after his PhD defence, he described Political Science as the mother of all sciences, explaining that the discipline goes beyond teaching leadership theories, and explores human behaviour, governance patterns, and the reasoning behind decisions that shape societies and nations.
Dr Akase who expressed gratitude to God for attaining the feat said his pursuit of knowledge and passion for understanding leadership dynamics inspired his decision to study Political Science at the doctoral level after obtaining a Master’s Degree in International Relations despite his background in journalism.
“I have gone so deeply in journalism, so in my quest to diversify and to acquire more knowledge, I branched into Political Science and did another Master’s Degree in International Relations which is under Political Science, and after that, I decided to pursue a PhD in Political Science, and today, by the grace of God, it has come to pass,” he emphasised.
Doctor Akase further said the study of Political Science broadens one’s understanding of why individuals and governments act the way they do within the political arena and how those actions affect the wellbeing of citizens, noting that the knowledge gained would guide him in contributing more meaningfully to policy debates and public service.
On the relevance of his research to governance and public policy, the Seasoned Journalist stressed that he focused on foreign policy, which, according to him, remains a vital instrument for any government seeking to solve domestic challenges through international cooperation, explaining that the ability of a nation to leverage on global relations could determine its internal stability and development.
He said “I have picked one of the most interesting topics which is about foreign policy, and you know that no nation exists in a vacuum; countries relate with others to be able to tackle their domestic problems, so it is an area that should interest any government.
“If Nigeria, for instance, wants to relate with the United States or Britain or any country in the world, it has to use international relations, and that is my field of specialization, so I think it is an aspect of political science that is of paramount importance to countries of the world.”
Reflecting on his transition from journalism to Political Science, Dr Akase noted that both disciplines are rooted in social science research, pointing out that it was seamless adapting to the minor variations between them while being determined to surmount the normal day-to-day challenges that come with pursuing academic endeavours.
He said: “Fortunately, they are all departments in the Social Sciences, so crossing from Mass Communication to Political Science is just like moving from one room to another in the same house. All of them do Social Science research, so there were just some minimal changes, but beyond them, the general challenges of academics are normal and it takes determination to sail through, so I won’t count them.”
He urged young people to cultivate a passion for learning and to pursue knowledge up to advanced levels, noting that education remains a lifelong process which equips individuals with the intellectual tools needed to shape society positively and drive meaningful development.
“We have people who are in their 80s and are still learning, so young people should make their minds open to learn, and you should never be satisfied with what you have in academics; go for higher learning; go for deeper learning; keep learning and read widely.
So the younger generations should take this as a challenge to always seek knowledge and greater knowledge; and that way, they will be better; they will be helping themselves better and helping the society better.”
Dr Akase lauded his wife, Lady Jessica Akase, and his entire family and friends for their support, while commending his supervisors and the entire academic environment for providing the guidance that helped him complete the rigorous process successfully.