Terungwa Simon Atsaigba

Answer 1

On Monday, in the wee hours of 12th December, 1988, the conjugal union between Chief Paul A. Boshi and Mrs. Roseline M. Boshi of Mbamena in the little town of Zaki-Biam, Ukum LGA, Benue State, was blessed with a male child, their first, and he was named Terungwa which roughly translated could mean 'the Lord has heard' or 'the Lord has answered'. Few months later, Terungwa was baptized according to the Catholic faith and given the name Simon. Thus, his full names became Terungwa Simon Atsaigba, his last name been his father's middle name.

Even though the Boshis had no recognized acquitances with formal education, they were hell bent to see their child educated notwithstanding their mean income. This suffices to explain why Terungwa attended substandard schools. His early education was quite irregular. He is said to have attended Dugwer Nursery and Primary School, Zaki-Biam, LGEA Primary School, Mbamena, and NKST Primary School, Uvia, the first and last now defunct and indistinct. More notably, Mr. T.S. Atsaigba attended Alexander Memorial Nursery and Primary School, Zaki-Biam where his unmatched brilliance made him popular and every teacher's delight. It is far from overstatement to say the name Terungwa became a synonym for first position. More often than not, the total marks of the pupil carrying position 2nd were just the half of Atsaigba's total marks. It is unclear whether Simon attended another primary school before completing his primary education.

Like his primary schools, Terungwa Simon Atsaigba attended a no name secondary school. Though the now defunct Pioneer Combined College (PCC), Zaki-Biam, a newly established school, was in its hay days when he was admitted into JSS1 (2000) where the story of his brilliance continued. His nick name "De Professor" gained prominence because friends, mates, teachers and other students fondly addressed him with the title. Atsaigba completed his secondary education at Mbapuun Grammar School, Zaki-Biam, where he sat for and obtained WASSC in 2006.

After his secondary education, Mr. T.S Atsaigba who has uncommon quest for knowledge applied for and was given admission into Preliminary Studies at College of Education, Katsina-Ala at the completion of which he was absorbed into the NCE programme proper in 2008 owing to his outstanding performance. He combined English and Literary Studies with Theatre Arts. He held many offices in the College during his three years of studies, some of which include Assistant Secretary General, Association of Theatre Arts Students (ATAS) (2009), Director, Final Year Production, Group B (2010), etc. Atsaigba completed his NCE programme in 2010 with merit in all his combinations.

Socially, Terungwa is an easy going person, so simple and friendly though sometimes reserved and ungenerous with words. He has many unpublished poems, a play, and a novel in the making to his credit. Presently, 'De Prof' is on the staff list of Shovihkah Comprehensive Secondary School, Zaki-Biam, where he teaches Literature-in-English.