A university don, Dr Innocent Kasarchi, has commended the Bayelsa State All Progressives Congress deputy governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections, Joshua Maciver, for his humility and zeal to learn as a Masters’ student at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Port Harcourt.
Dr Kasarchi made the commendation in an exclusive interview with South-South PUNCH correspondent shortly after a special birthday get-together organized by members of the Post Graduate Communication Class, Department of English and Communication Arts, at the university in honour of Mr Maciver, who is also one of them.
Recall that Maciver was running mate to Chief Timipre Sylva, Bayelsa State APC governorship candidate in the last governorship poll.
Maciver is also the Bayelsa State Coordinator of Tantitta Security Services Limited.
Dr Kasarchi said though he teaches Maciver’s class ‘The Theories of Communication,’ he never knew him until when he encountered him and was taken aback by his humility, unlike some well-to-do individuals, who assume hairs because of their status in society.
He stated, “I’m a lecturer for the celebrant today. It is an MA class, and I’m teaching him the Theories of Communication. When I came to teach in this programme, I didn’t know him before now, even though he had schooled in the University of Port Harcourt, where I teach full time.
“When I later got to know him, I was shocked that somebody like that was in the class. The first thing I noticed about him was humility. The way he greets you, the way he talks to you. You won’t even know.
“The second thing I noticed about him is that he doesn’t do what big men do, who stay at home to get degrees. He comes to class early, takes notes, apologizes when he comes late and he wants to learn.”
Dr Kasarchi, who teaches full time at the Department of Broadcasting, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Port Harcourt, recalled in one of his classes, Maciver had travelled, saying when he returned he approached him (lecturer) and pleaded with him to do a summary of a lecture he missed for him.
“I said I don’t have the time. He pleaded that he will come anywhere to meet me. So he came to my office and I taught him. The third thing I noticed about him is that he is a different kind of politician, because I have met and worked with politicians.
“I pray that if this kind of man actually comes into a position of authority, I think there will be a change. A man who does something on his own volition, not for something he gets and he doesn’t even want anybody to know.
“So for me that kind of person is my ideal student. So I came to class today. I saw what they said they were doing and I decided to be part of it, because he is an exceptional student.”
The varsity don therefore advised other PG students and undergraduates alike to emulate the humility in the politician and avoid cutting corners in their academic pursuit and other ventures in life.
He added, “So students should look at this man and learn a lot from him. I think it is divine that God brought them all together at this point.”
Maicaver’s Chief Protocol Officer, Good-hope Bonnie, who represented him at the event, said it is a thing of joy that his principal’s course mates are celebrating him in such a manner.
Bonnie said, “In life, if you are not celebrated, it means you haven’t achieved anything. So for them to celebrate him this way, I believe it is because he has been able to impact their lives.
“So we give God all the glory for how far God has led him, and we pray that God will take him to greater heights to be able to do more.”
One of the PG students, Douglas Chukwudi, said the class was moved to honour Maciver because of his invaluable support to them individually and collectively.
Chukwudi enthused, “Many people that picked the form were hoping that a miracle will happen and indeed such a miracle happened. Some of us have gotten registration numbers, but some have not made any payment of school fees.
“The man (Maciver) has been silently giving grants to about 70 percent of people I know, though he doesn’t want it to be mentioned anywhere. And anybody who comes to him boldly enough for one challenge or the other, before you mention it, solution is already there.
“He has been light since our commencement of this programme. Not just in our class, to the department, to the faculty, to the school management. He is fathering us as if we are his children.”
Chukwudi enthused that so many things the class would need money, for, Maicaver “takes them upon himself, and we appreciate him for that.
He added, “So we are using the occasion of his birthday to celebrate him and say ‘thank you.’ His birthday was actually 15th of April, but because that day was not our lecture day, we shifted it so that the whole class – the Post Graduate Students of Communication of the 2023/2024 academic session which started in October 2023 – will participate.”
Highlight of the occasion was the cutting of a birthday cake and singing of the birthday song to the celebrant.
