Uche Ikonne

Uchenna Ikonne was a Nigerian professor of optometry. In December 2015, he became the 7th Substantive Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University.^[1][2] having previously served as the Rector, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba – (on Rescue Mission) 2014–2015.^[3]

Professor Ikonne took Abia State University from 93rd position, on assumption of Office in 2015, to 27th and 2nd Best State University in Nigeria in the 2020 Nigerian University Ranking.^[4]

Uche Ikonne was the gubernatorial candidate of the People's Democratic Party in Abia State.^[5] He died at the National Hospital, Abuja, around 4 am on January 25, 2023, after suffering from multiple cardiac arrests.^[6]

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.^[1]

From 2010 to 2014, Ikonne served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of Abia State University after then serving as Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba – (on Rescue Mission). He became the 7th Substantive Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University in December 2015. He also served as the Head of the Department of Optometry in the same institution. While at Abia State University, he served as the acting dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and deputy provost of the College of Medicine & Health Sciences.^[1] In 1993, he was appointed as a member of the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria. He was also subsequently appointed chairman of the education committee in Abia State. In 2019, he was appointed Chairman of the Governing Board of the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN) and served on the board till 2022. Ikonne won the African Optometric Educator Award of the year 2003 and the Distinguished Merit Award of the Nigerian Optometric Association 2006. ^[1]