15/08/2026
Sometimes in 1995, I wanted to go gain admission at the prestigious Kaduna polytechnic, I didn't know how to go about it, I had never been to Kaduna.
But back home I heard of a Tiv man that owned an institute for professionals, though I knew his children, as Makurdi was a small place and almost everyone knew everyone, i was yet to meet him directly.
I heard of how everyone that took a problem to him would surely go back smiling, and how much he had been a father and shield to the Tiv community in Kaduna.
So this fateful day, i was going to one business cafe that was close to my tailoring shop there at high level market where you now have a filling station, I saw this same person ( everyone's father) drive into the premises.
I walked up to him, no protocols, no long talks, I greeted Baba u pande ver, he answered with a smile, " U pande nena? Msugh ee". I then introduced my self to him, Mngu wan u Agure-Dam, oooooh Agure-Dam wam u Agriculture nee? He asked, eenn ka un Sir.
I immediately told him I was looking for an opportunity to see him but learnt he stayed more in Kaduna, he said hope no problem, I then told him I wanted to apply for a course at Kadpoly but didn't know how to go about it, he asked which of the departments, I told him textile technology, as I was into Fashion designing then.
Immediately he opened his pigeon hole, brought out a Jotter and wrote HOD TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY, PLEASE ATTEND TO BEARER. And he signed, Prof. Iornem. Everything happened in less than 30 minutes, no drama, a man so powerful yet so humble and so simple.
That was how my journey to Kadpoly began, and in 1999, I graduated best student in my department .
Today Professor David Iornem who has lived a life of impacting others, turns 77.
I thank God for the privilege to have met him as a father, mentor and guide while I was in Kaduna.
I am not celebrating him as a Textile technologist, but as a Baking technologist.
Happy birthday Sir, I celebrate you and wish you many more beautiful years ahead.
