LATE JOAN NIKE ADA Ph.D

Life and times

Dr. Joan Olanike Ada (NEE Akinbinu) was born in Ahijire, Ondo Town, on 12th March, 1960 to the Christian family of Pa Simeon Akinbinu and Mama Yemi Akinbinu, all of the native of Ondo State. She attended Costain Grammar School Araromi Obu Ondo, then Araromi Obu Community Secondary School Araromi Obu Ondo State where she obtained her West African School Certificate in 1970. By circumstance of marriage and subsequent relocation to Benue State, the home state of her husband Professor Nicholas Akise Ada. She attended St. Mary’s Teachers’ College, Adikpo in Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State from 1980-1983 where she obtained Teachers Grade II Certificate in 1983. She then proceeded to College of Education, Katsina-Ala in 1985 and graduated with Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in 1988.
The quest for higher education took her to the University of Calabar, Calabar in 1990 where she bagged a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed. Elementary Education) in 1995. Still not satisfied with her level of educational attainment, Dr Joan enrolled for a Master degree programme in Educational Management, Benue State University, Makurdi and graduated in 2006. In 2012/2013 academic session, Dr Joan was among the first set of students who enrolled for PhD programme in Educational Management at the Benue State University, Makurdi and graduated in 2017 with PhD Educational Management.
HER WORK EXPERIENCE
Dr. Joan Nike Ada took up appointment with Kwande Local Government Education Authority as a classroom teacher and taught at St. Ann’s Primary School Adikpo between 1983-1984. She relocated to Katsina-Ala and joined her husband at the College of Education, Katsina-Ala, then Advance Teachers’ College (ATC) Katsina-Ala where she was employed as a teacher at the College Staff Practicing School, Katsina Ala in 1984. In 1992, Dr Joan again transferred her services to the Staff School of the Benue State University to meet her husband who is currently a Professor at the University. Dr. Joan Nike Ada continued teaching in the staff school until she enrolled for her PhD programme in Educational Management, Department of Educational Foundations where she was engaged in the teaching of undergraduate programmes until she obtained her Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) in 2017. She then sought and transferred her services to the main stream of the University as a lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education in 2017 as Lecturer 1, and then promoted to Senior Lecturer, the rank she held until her demise. As a lecturer in the Department of Educational Foundation, Dr. Joan Nike Ada held many posts in different capacities including; the Coordinator Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and the Postgraduate Coordinator, Educational Management. The position she held until her death.
HER PUBLICATIONS
During her career time as a University lecturer, Dr Joan published several articles in reputable International and Local Journals among her works are; . She also attended and presented papers at several conferences and seminars, and had supervised four PhD candidates and several master degrees. Dr Joan was also involved in mentoring of undergraduates and postgraduate students.
SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY LIFE
Dr. Joan Nike Ada was a social woman, community service driven person and a Philanthropist. She interacted with whoever came close to her and whoever she went close to. She was a very interactive woman, a counselor, disciplinarian, entrepreneur, and a bridge builder. The moment one stepped into her house, the first question she would ask is: “what do you want to eat or drink please” and she would serve personally. She was a woman who interacted with everyone whether educated or not. She showed no class to social life. Dr Joan was an active member of many organizations among which included; Charity Sisters, Makurdi, Mbahula Community and Social Development Organisation (MCSDO) her husband’s people unanimously appointed her as Chairperson to lead the community development organization. During her tenure as the Chairperson of MCSDP, Dr Joan in collaboration with the Benue State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDP) and the community under her leadership successfully renovated the Community Clinic Ada, Mbahula, Shangev-Ya. Her husband’s people gave her the title “kasev Ikundu” of Shangev-ya meaning (20 women in one woman). She also single-handedly built the Priest’s residence in the Catholic Church at RCM Jov Mbahula, bought a generator and public address system for the church at home.
RELIGIOUS LIFE
Dr. Joan Nike Ada who was a non-catholic, converted to the catholic faith and was baptized on 8th July, 1994 by Rev. Fr. Prof. Moses Mdooyongo Orhungur at the Benue State University, Makurdi Catholic Chaplaincy. She got her confirmation on 16th March, 1997 by Late Bishop A. Usuh. She was passionate about her catholic faith to the point that she allowed and supported her son Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Raji Ada to join the catholic priesthood and become a catholic priest. Her contributions to the development of the church are too numerous but a few; she initiated and constructed the priest residence in her husband’s village. She also proposed a church building project at RCM Primary School Jov Mbahula. She was an active member of many church organizations such as Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), Women and Daughters of Gboko Catholic Diocese, St. Rita of Carsea, English Choir just to mention few. Dr. Joan Nike Ada would always say that hard work pays and we should always have faith in God. Dr Joan had sponsored people to the catholic priesthood and together with her husband had sponsored several Christian marriages in the Catholic Church. The most recent being; Chief. Emmanuel Viashima Gisa. She was the President CWO, Benue State University Good Shepherd Catholic Chaplaincy, and also served in numerous committees including; member, committee for the building of Catholic Church, the Central Planning committee for the Installation of His Lordship Bishop Chikpa Wilfred Anagbe, and member, Harvest and Thanksgiving/Bazaar Planning Committee of BSU Chaplaincy and President of Nigerian Association of University Women (NAUW) Makurdi Branch.
HER FAMILY LIFE
Dr. Joan Nike Ada was happily married to Prof. Nicholas Akise Ada of Mbahula, Shangev-Ya, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State for over Forty Two years and the marriage is blessed with disciplined children and grand children. They were joined in Holy Matrimony on July 9th 1994.
HER DEATH
Dr. Joan Nike Ada was not having any health challenge before her death. Prior to her untimely death, she and her husband went for a comprehensive medical checkup to their family Doctor, Dr. Gbaa Zulum. On Friday 26th August, 2022 she went for the Catholic Diocese of Gboko meeting of Women and Daughters of the Diocese at Gboko. While on her way back to Makurdi on Saturday 27th August, 2022 at about 4pm, a Tanker truck loaded with petroleum product ran into the vehicle she was using and killed her along with the driver at the spot. MAY HER SOUL REST IN PEACE