PROFESSOR MRS. ELIZABETH NYAGER

BIOGRAPHY OF PROFESSOR ELIZABETH ASHIMANA NYAGER (neé Aleva)

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“Many women have done excellently (as good wives) but you surpass them all” Proverbs 31:29 

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Professor Elizabeth Ashimana  Nyager was born on 2 April 1956 at Wannune in Mbakor district of what is now Tarka local government area  of Benue State. Her farther Mr. Aleva Vorbo was a respected school teacher from Mbatierev who was working at Wannune at the time of her birth while her mother Mrs. Mbakasen Vorbo( nee Gberkon Ingyoroko ) from Tômbo Mbalagh devoted her full time to home-making and the upbringing of her children in the strict Christian traditions of the Gberkon Ingyoroko family. This background shaped the life and times of Elizabeth and her siblings.

Born an identical twin with her sister Mary Mfaze,  Elizabeth had four other siblings, namely Victoria Mwuese, the eldest, Tersue, Tivlumun and Terhemen. The parents and all the siblings except for Mwuese the eldest, are deceased.

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EARLY LIFE 

Elizabeth’s early educational years and those of her two sisters were shaped by the vision of her father to raise girl children to be educated and independent. Her mother complemented this with a strong spiritual input in their lives. She tells the story of her mum counseling them in their formative years to start praying for godly husbands even though the concept and thought of marriage was the remotest thing on their minds at that time.

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Elizabeth was admitted to the elite Queen of the Rosary Secondary School Gboko upon completion of her primary education at LGA Primary School, Makurdi. In the Queen of the Rosary Secondary School, her contemporaries remember her as a serious-minded and studious girl with a sunny personality who loved books. The Catholic Sisters running the school noticed this characteristic in her and made her the school librarian. She devoured everything that could be read in that library. In fact, both her classmates and those who came after her say there was hardly any book in that library that Elizabeth  had not signed out at one time or the other to read.

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Elizabeth was very close to her twin sister and sometimes people mistaking their identity gave room for some  mischief by them and exasperation for others. Her classmates often told the story of how in their first year at Queens, her twin sister Mary, who was in government secondary school Gboko came to visit and joined her in class during break before the start of the new class. The volume of the animated interaction going on in that class attracted the attention of the principal who happened to be passing by. She went in and did a double take when she saw the twin sisters. “You” she said pointing at Elizabeth, mistaking her for the intruder. “Out of my class! I did not admit two of you.” Elizabeth obediently walked out to go and hide somewhere with a favorite book while Mary, with the tittering connivance of the girls in the class, completed the lesson as her Elizabeth with the teaching Sister being none the wiser.
     
At Queen of the Rosary during those important formative years,  Ashimana formed fast friendships with three other girls in her class, Elizabeth Iorvihi, now Liz Ahua, Andrea Jôgô, now Professor Andrea Ornguze and Benedicta Upaa, now Benedicta Ayede. Their principal Sister  found them promising and called them “the great quartet” and prophesied that they would all go far in life. They all did very well in their West African School Certificate and subsequently proceeded to tertiary education. Elizabeth gained admission to the Ahmadu Bello University School of Basic Studies Zaria in preparation for her University Education. She was admitted into Ahmadu Bello University for a Bachelor of Arts degree. She was among the pioneer students in the department of Drama in 1975. This was a characteristically bold move since many people even in the faculty of Arts had not even heard about a course called Drama at that time. She graduated with a BA Honors in Drama with second class upper in 1978 to prepare her for a successful career spanning over 47 years.

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CAREER

Elizabeth started her career as a cultural affairs officer with the Ministry of Information in Abeokuta , Ogun State in 1978 during her National Youth Service year. With the completion of her national service, she launched her academic career with a move to the Advanced Teacher’s Training College (now College of Education ) Katsina Ala, Benue State in 1979 as Assistant Lecturer. A dedicated and diligent worker, she rose to the rank of Lecturer 111 in 1984 and was deployed to the Ministry of Education in Makurdi. 

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At the Ministry of Education where she rose to the rank of Assistant Director, she enhanced her qualifications by enrolling at the University of Jos for a Post Graduate Diploma in Education that she subsequently obtained in 1987. She further sought and obtained approval to enroll for a Master of Arts degree in Theatre Arts at the University of Jos, a qualification she added to her CV in 1990.
In 1992 she made a career move to the University of Jos as lecturer 11. In furtherance of her career and academic pursuit, she obtained a Doctor of Philosophy  (PhD )degree in Theatre Studies from the University of Abuja. 

She rose to become the Professor and Chair of  Gender and Development Theatre , University of Jos in 2013. As a media and communications specialist and consultant, she worked extensively with rural and urban poor communities in community development and intervention projects using Theatre for Development as a tool.

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In addition to lecturing, she presided over the programs of the American Spaces Corner as Coordinator. The Corner  is a unit of Administration in the University created in partnership with the US Cultural Affairs Department for the running of programs of mutual interest to the US, Government of Nigeria and the University of Jos. As coordinator, she oversaw the relations between the United States Cultural Affairs Department and the Office  of the Vice Chancellor in which the American Corner is situated. Furthermore, she served on several Departmental and Faculty Committees. 

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PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS /PUBLICATIONS 

She belonged to several professional associations in which she played key roles in their founding and development. Some of these include: 

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• The Society of Nigerian Theatre Artists(SONTA)

• Founding Vice President, National Association of Women Academics(NAWACS) and Vice President, University of Jos Chapter 

• Member, Christian Rural and Urban Development Association of Nigeria (CRUDAN)

• Member, American Studies Association of Nigeria (ASAN)

• Member, African Literature Association (ALA)

• Member, African Studies Association (ASA)

• Member, African Theatre Association(AfTA)

She has published widely in both local and international journals and has co-authored and authored several books. (a few are listed on the website)
In 2016, she was honored with the award for Exemplary Scholarship and Mentoring by the Department of Theatre and Film Arts of the University.

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MARITAL LIFE 

Elizabeth and Joe Nyager met in Jos in 1973 and at first neither Elizabeth nor her friends took the relationship seriously. Joe Nyager who was studying to become a veterinary doctor seemed too much of a guy for the demure and very religious person that Elizabeth Aleva was. However, after a marathon courtship of nine years, it became crystal clear to both parties that God indeed meant them for each other, first impressions notwithstanding. Joe and Elizabeth got married on her birthday in 1982 in Makurdi. 

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Before we get to the blessings of the marriage, this anecdote must form a transition. Let me call it the determination of three Elizabeths. At the end of her national youth service year in Ogun State, Elizabeth Aleva reunited with her QRSS classmate and friend, Elizabeth Iorvihi and a third friend, Elizabeth Yashim, from present-day Kogi State. The three, in 1979 Makurdi had three things in common. They were young and attractive, launching their careers with enthusiasm and on fire for the Lord Jesus Christ as born-again Christians. They had one burning determination to place before God so they declared a three-month fasting and prayer period and boldly asked God to give them god-fearing husbands who would work with them as partners for  peace and happiness in their families. God must have answered their prayers because over the next year and a half, all three were hooked by men who approximated to what they had demanded of God in prayer and fasting.  

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The  marriage of 43 years between Joe and Elizabeth Nyager has been blessed with four daughters namely Mbahenen (of blessed memory), Seember, Iwuese and Doom, popularly known as Doomie as well as three wonderful grandchildren namely Chetachi, Jidena and Osinachi. It is some consolation to us that Elizabeth’s trademark ringing laughter that brought sunshine and happiness to every room and community has been inherited by her youngest daughter Doomie. While she, like all of us has been devastated by Elizabeth’d passing, we hope one day, that laughter will ring again in our homes and remind us all of our dear Ashimana. 

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It is also noteworthy to mention that as Elizabeth and Joe Nyager grew in their careers and ascended to higher responsibilities, they tended to spend more and more time in different cities with Nyager in Abuja and Elizabeth in Jos. However, Elizabeth’s presence was always large in their family house where she made sure that neither her husband and children nor the numerous visitors and extended family that the couple welcomed and hosted in their home lacked anything. Elizabeth was indeed a rare and excellent jewel. 

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MINISTRY 

Elizabeth has been a committed Christian ever since she got born again in the secondary school during a camp meeting. She had a passion for lost souls and was a committed supporter of missions and missionaries . She was an intercessor and a committed member of the Prayer Chain of her local assembly.
She was on the Board of Helping Hands for Women and Youth and a leader of the Treasured Souls Global Alliance working tirelessly for the deliverance of treasured souls from diverse addictions. She has been a voice against injustice particularly as it affects women and children and the underprivileged in society. This passion has been largely reflected in her academic and published works.

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HOBBIES

Elizabeth loved to read books of all kind, a passion she shared with her husband. It’s not surprising that all her daughters are voracious readers like her.
Elizabeth loved travel. Since childhood she had been fixated on wanting to travel to some of the places she read about, beginning with Prince Edward Island, Canada, the location of the fictitious “Anne of Green Gables “ the children’s book.

This long travel bucket list was fortunately fulfilled having travelled widely on vacation, with her husband or other family members as well as to participate in conferences and present papers at reputable institutions in Nigeria, Africa, the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and the Middle East including Israel.

Another passion of hers was working to uplift the lives of the underprivileged communities and mentoring young people. The children in her husband’s village will miss grandma who was used to hosting them in hundreds as they enthusiastically recited bible verses over food and drinks especially during festive celebrations.

She was an extremely generous host providing a good table spread for her guests. She loved to catch up with friends and family over tea or food either at her houses or at a restaurant and one thing for sure is that her infectious laughter would ring out causing everyone else to join. Always.
Incredibly, Elizabeth shared most if not all of her passions and experiences with her best friend of 50 years, Alison Data (now Mrs Data Phido) whom she met during her undergraduate years in 1975! You can call the enduring friendship part of her hobbies.

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TRANSITION

Although Elizabeth had been battling and learning to cope with serious illness for almost one and a half decades, only some of her closest friends knew about this. Neither in her demeanor nor her whole-hearted commitment to her work, family and social responsibilities could anyone have guessed. She carried on with zest and vigor anything that she laid her hands on.

She posted on her Drama ‘78 Classmate’s group on April 2, 2025 : “Hi Class! I turned 69 today. Join me to praise the Lord.” She talked about her retirement next year and the freedom it would afford her to travel around the globe with Joe without worry of work responsibilities.

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It however pleased God to call her home on the evening of 17 September 2025 at the Centre for Diagnostic and Intervention Radiology of Johan Wolfgang University Hospital in Frankfurt, Germany; where she had gone to receive diagnosis and treatment. Her husband of 43 years was, as always, with her to the end in fulfillment of the promise “ …..in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part …….”

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As we mourn her passing and know that she has left a void in our lives that cannot be filled, we do not mourn as those without hope but those who are assured of the gift of life everlasting that we have in Christ Jesus.