The People’s Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate in Abia State Prof Eleazar Uchenna Ikonne is dead.
Ikonne died at the National Hospital Abuja today, 25th January 2023 by 4am after a brief illness.
According to his son Dr Uche- Ikonne Chikezie “He was recovering after taking proper treatment in the United Kingdom but relapsed a few days ago leading to multiple cardiac arrests for which he didn’t recover from”.
Dr Chikezie stated that further details and arrangements would be made known to the public after deliberations and meetings are made within the family.
Brief History
Prof Ikonne was born in Agburuike, Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North, Abia State. After attending Ngwa High School in Aba of Abia State, he studied optometry at Manila Central University, Philippines.
He also graduated from a specialist master’s degree programme in Hospital Administration at St. Jude College, also in the Philippines, and on his return to Nigeria in 1985, served as consulting optometrist at the Park Lane General Hospital, Enugu, and obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Environmental Health Science from Abia State University.
From 2010 to 2014, Ikonne served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Abia State University after then served as Rector, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba – (on Rescue Mission). He became the 7th Substantive Vice-Chancellor, Abia State University 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
Positions held
Member, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria from 1993.
Chairman of the Education Committee, 1993.
Chairman, Disciplinary Committee, 2007 .
Vice-Chairman, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria, 2009.
Registrar, Nigerian Postgraduate College of Optometrists
Professor Ikonne won the African Optometric Educator Award of the year 2003 and the Distinguished merit Award of the Nigerian Optometric Association, 2006
