Prof Uche Ikonne: Life, Education, Career and Death

By Christy Animam

The sad news broke in the early hours of Wednesday January 25 that Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Prof Uche Ikonne, was dead.

The announcement was made via a statement by his son, Dr Chikezie Uche-Ikonne, on Wednesday.

The statement read, “I regret to announce the death of my dear father, Prof Eleazar Uchenna Ikonne, who died at the National Hospital Abuja today January 2023 25, by 4 a.m. after a brief illness.

“He was recovering after taking proper treatment in the United Kingdom but relapsed a few days ago leading to multiple cardiac arrests from which he didn’t recover from.”

What to know about Prof Uche Ikonne

Uchenna Ikonne was a Nigerian professor of optometry. In December 2015 he became the 7th Substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Abia State University. having previously served as the Rector, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba – (on Rescue Mission) 2014–2015.

Uche Ikonne was the gubernatorial candidate of People’s Democratic Party in Abia State. He died at the National Hospital Abuja around 4 a.m. on January 25, 2023

Early life and education

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. Optometry is a specialized health care profession that involves examining the eyes and related structures for defects or abnormalities

Prof Uche Ikonne 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 (PhD) degree in Environmental Health Science from Abia State University.

Career

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.

Along his career trajectory, 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

Other positions he held include the following:

• 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
• 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