Showing posts with label Abia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abia. Show all posts

Friday, June 3, 2022

2023: Professor Ikonne Sets to Adjust Abia's Sail

2023: Professor Ikonne Sets to Adjust Abia's Sail

- By Chief Maxwell Kanu. 

In the words of the American author, John Maxwell, "the pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.”

Professor Uche Ukonne perfectly fits into Maxwell's definition of a leader.

His emergence as the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP's gubernatorial flagbearer is indeed a trigger for a new Abia.

Professor Ikonne's expected victory in next year's gubernatorial polls will be a fitting, proper and deserving call to service, a call to reinvent Abia by recalibrating its economy and infrastructure.

He is not coming to learn on the job.A consumate administrator and academic colossus, Professor Ikonne is eminently qualified, prepared and equipped with innovative ideas with  which he will be adjusting Abia's sail for the better when he becomes governor next year.

His exhilarating performance as the Vice Chancellor of Abia state University still resonates. 

Like a goldfish, Professor Ikonne has no hiding place. It is not therefore, a surprise that the PDP spotted him and saddled him with the task of deepening Abia's socio-economic and infrastructural ascendancy.

It is obvious that the party recognises  a competent leader, a doer and an achiever when it see one. For sure, the PDP sees one in Professor Ikonne.

With a plethora of youth and women organisations, civil society groups, academics and religious leaders as well as traditional rulers routing for him, Professor Ikonne is the man to beat in the 2023 Abia guber contest.

Born in Agburuike, Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North, Abia State, Professor Ikonne's academic career spans over three decades.

He attended  Ngwa High School, in Aba  and later proceeded to Manila Central University, Philippines to study Optometry.

He also holds specialist master's degree programme in Hospital Administration at St. Jude College, also in the Philippines.On his return to Nigeria in 1985, Professor Ikonne served as consulting optometrist at the Park Lane General Hospital, Enugu, and was later to obtain a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Environmental Health Science from Abia State University.

In an ironic twist of fate, he would in later years, serve the University as Vice Chancellor.

From 2010 to 2014, Ikonne served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Abia State University and was seconded to Abia State Polytechnic, Aba as Rector on what was described as  Rescue  Mission.

Upon returning to the University, he was appointed its 7th Substantive Vice-Chancellor in December 2015.

He also attained the following positions:

Head, Department of Optometry – Abia State University.

Director, Institute for Distance Education, Abia State University.

Acting Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Abia State University.

Deputy Provost, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Abia State University.

Professor Ikonne is a member of several professional bodies and has sat on many professional and academic Boards and Committees including:

Member, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria from 1993 to date

Chairman of the Education Committee, 1993 to date

Chairman, Disciplinary Committee, 2007 to date

Vice-Chairman, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria, 2009 to date. He was also Registrar, Nigerian Postgraduate College of Optometrists.

Professor Ikonne has in his kitty, an avalanche of awards including,  the African Optometric Educator Award of the year 2003 and the Distinguished Meritt Award of the Nigerian Optometric Association, 2006.

If elected governor next year, Professor Ikonne will join the list of erudite academics, especially Professor who were/are in partisan politics and who offered quality leadership and contributed immensely to national development.

The roll call include the second Republic governor of the defunct Bendel state, the late Prof Ambrose Alli, former Education Minister,  

Professor Jibril Aminu, Former Vice Chancellor of ABU, Processor Ango Abdulahi, Late Minister of Petroleum, Professor Tam David West, Former Health Minister, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, Former Health Minister, Onikoye Ransom-Kuti, Former Education Minister, late Professor  Babs Fafuwa, Former Minister for Science and Technology, late Professor Godion Ezekwe, incumbent Governor of Borno state, Professor Zulum among others.

***

Chief Maxwell writes from Isukwuato, Abia State.



Saturday, February 27, 2021

Obi of Akokwa @ 50


Obi of Akokwa @ 50

- By Ingram Osigwe 

Attaining the golden age is a no mean feat. It's a biological, natural milestone that calls for deep introspection and celebration.

One, not everyone crosses the 5 and 0 mark. Many died on the cusp of 50, majorly at 48, 49. Secondly, crossing 50 rekindles hope of longevity.

Therefore, His Royal Highness, Eze (Sir) Ikenna C. Okoli (KSC), Okoli V, Agbakwuruibe III, the 11th Obi of Akokwa, has every reason to be grateful to God. Not only that he has attained the golden age, His Royal Majesty will be clocking 19 years on the throne of his forefathers later this year.

Come February 28, 2021 , all roads will lead to the ancient kingdom of Akokwa. That day is His Royal Majesty's day. On that date, Nigerians from all walks of life, people of goodwill, friends, associates and well wishers will empty into Akokwa to felicitate with Agbakwuruibe 111.

The effervescent Eze ( Sir) Ikenna C. Okoli was born into the Ezesiobuna Royal Family in Obi Uzouhu Village in Akokwa on February 28, 1971.He attended St’ Peter’s Primary School, Akokwa between 1976 and 1982 where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate the same year. Thereafter, he proceeded to Federal Government College, Azare, Bauchi State and Federal Government College, Sokoto, Sokoto State where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1987.

In 1990, the young Okoli gained admission into the Abia State University, Uturu in Abia State where he obtained a BSc in Sociology/Anthropology in 1994.

Agbakwuruibe 111 is imbued with the zeal for entrepreneurship, hence after his graduation, as young as he was then, he decided to be an employer of labour as he  incorporated Equipment Alliance Limited of which he is the MD/CEO.

His Royal Highness thus  commenced the business of equipment leasing.Till date Equipment Alliance Limited which is also into Earth and marine equipment leasing, is still operational with Head office at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Akokwa is noted for peaceful and orderly ascension to the Obi stool. This explained the seamless emergence of Eze Okoli.After the untimely and painful demise of his late father, HRH Eze Osita C. Okoli (KSC) in the 2002, Eze Ikenna Okoli, as the first son of the late monarch and in line with the primogeniture rule of succession of Akokwa people,  was chosen by his people to ascend the ancient throne as the 11th Obi of Akokwa.

The Obi of Akokwa is deeply committed to the things of God and a dedicated Christian of the Anglican communion faith. No wonder the Ideato Diocese of the Anglican Communion found him worthy of knighthood and conferred him with one.

The same year he ascended the throne the church  investested him as a Knight of Saint Christopher. This was on December 8, 2002.

More wins were in store for him: On the 15th of March, 2005, the Imo State Government under the leadership of His Excellency Sir Achike Udenwa, the then Executive Governor of Imo State recognized and gazetted the name of Eze Ikenna C. Okoli as the Obi of Akokwa with effect from the 5th day of March, 2005.

 HRH Eze Ikenna Okoli  descended from a very long and illustrious line of rulers in the following order:

*Eze Okwarauhu Akokwa

 *Eze Dimonyegbesu Okwarauhu

 *Eze Ezesiobuna Dimonyegbesu

*Eze Dimesoro Ezesiobuna

 *Eze Okwaraononihu Dimesoro

 *Eze Ukachukwu Okwaraononihu

 *Eze Okoli Ukachukwu

 *Eze Joseph Okoli

 *Eze Patrick Okoli

*Eze Osita Okoli

 *Eze Ikenna Okoli (Present Obi of Akokwa)

His Royal Highness, Eze (Sir) Ikenna C. Okoli (KSC), (MSI) Okoli V, Agbakwuruibe III, the 11th Obi of Akokwa is  blessed with three wonderful children.

Notedly, the Akokwa ancient kingdom is a border & nodal  town in Ideato North LGA of Imo state.

It shares boundaries with Aro-Ndizuogu, Uzii, Osina, Akpulu and also a gateway to Anambra state as it shares border with Uga and Umuchu. Akokwa boasts of many industrialist, academics and technotracts.Some of these notables are: Sir Tony Ezenna, OFR, (Ijele Akokwa) Chairman, Orange Group, Chief Charles Anudu, MD/CEO Swift Networks Limited, Chairman of Envoy Oil ltd, Sir Linus Ojimba, Prof. Kevin Ibeh,Commissioner,Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and Pro Vice Chancellor (International) at Birkbeck, University of London, High Chief Fabian A. Onwuachu(Acharaugo) President Emeritus, Peoples club of Nigeria international and Patron/Trustee Peoples club of Nigeria international, Chairman of Tiger foods ltd, Chief Celestine Ebubeogu(Ide Akokwa),Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2017 (MBGN), Miss Ugochi Mitchel Ihezue,Late Professor (Chief) Elechukwu Njaka who founded the famous ERNEST GAMES GRAMMER SCHOOL Akokwa.

Others include Late Dr. Otuokere Njaka, the second Republic deputy minority leader of the old Imo State House of Assembly,Engineer Ezekiel Izuogu, The designer of the first made in Nigeria car, John Munonye Nigerian educator and novelist( The only Son), Renowned banker and Economist, Prof Willie Uzoaga and many others 

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Ingram Osigwe ( Enyioha) is the  MD of Full page international communications Ltd



Monday, January 25, 2010

Nigeria: Fears of Reprisal Attacks Loom in Northern Nigeria

Nigeria: Fears of Reprisal Attacks Loom in Northern Nigeria

The fears of reprisal attacks are rife in northern Nigeria after the gruesome religious mayhem in Jos and other parts of Plateau state left hundreds dead, with scores of corpses dumped in wells and toilet pits. Intolerant religious fanatics are using cell phones and other means of private communication to instigate members of their sects to mobilize for reprisal attacks to avenge the deaths of those they lost. The law enforcement agencies have been alerted and warning everyone in the middle belt and northern states to beware of Islamists who are already planning to launch widespread attacks on non-Muslims.

Unidentified men armed with guns and other weapons were arrested and detained Saturday night in Kaduna by the Nigeria Air Force.
Police officers of the Operation Yaki in Kaduna state are patrolling towns and villages to ensure the security of lives and properties.

Many indigenes of Abia, Bayelsa, Edo and other Southern states are already leaving the northern states for the safe havens of their hometowns. Some private schools in Borno and Yobe states turned back pupils, because they cannot guarantee their safety in the tensed atmosphere of insecurity.