Dr Okezie Victor Chibuike Ikpeazu is the Executive Governor Of Abia State in South East Nigeria. He succeeded Chief T A Orji as Governor on the 29th of May 2015 after defeating three major opponents: Alex Otti (APGA) Chikwe Udensi (PPA) and Anyim Nyerere (APC) after the governorship polls conducted on April 11th and 25th 2015.
The academic and one time head of Biochemistry department at Enugu State University of Science and Technology emerged the candidate of then ruling People Democratic Party (PDP) after a primary election conducted by the party on the 8th of December 2014 and went on to win the General elections at first and second ballots.
Profile of Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D
Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D, a renowned biochemist and teacher, is the 4th democratically elected governor of Abia State.
He was sworn in as Governor on May 29th, 2015 on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
He was born on October 18, 1964, to the family of late Pa Ishmael and Deaconess Bessie Ikpeazu of Umuebere in Umuobiakwa village, Isialaukwu Mbato Autonomous Community in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria.
Dr. Ikpeazu attended Amaise Central Primary School, Umuobiakwa. In 1973, while in primary five, he gained admission into Eziama High School, Aba and later moved to Ihie High School, Isiala Ngwa, where he took his School Certificate Examination in 1979.
In 1980, at the age of 16, he gained admission into the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) to study Clinical Biochemistry and graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons.) Second Class Upper Division in August, 1984.
From August 1984 to August 1985, Dr. Ikpeazu served as a clinical biochemist in the medical laboratory of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) Port Harcourt, for his national youth service.
He returned to the University of Maiduguri for an M.Sc degree in Biochemical Toxicology and graduated in 1990.
In 1994, at the age of 30, he obtained a doctorate degree, Ph.D, in Biochemical Pharmacology from the University of Calabar.
CAREER/PUBLIC SERVICE
Dr. Ikpeazu served as a Graduate-Assistant in the Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Maiduguri, from 1986 to 1987 while studying for his M.Sc degree. He also taught at the Calabar Polytechnic from 1990 to 1992 during his Ph.D programme.
In 1998, Dr. Ikpeazu joined the services of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) as Lecturer 1 in the Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, and rose to Head of Department in 2001.
He was also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, Ebonyi State University College of Basic Medical Sciences, between 2000 and 2002.
Between 2003 and 2004, he was a Masters' Degree External Examiner, to the Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria.
In 2002, Dr. Ikpeazu served as the Transition Committee (TC) Chairman for Obingwa Local Government Area. This marked his entry into politics. He later served as Special Adviser to the Governor of Abia State.
Dr Ikpeazu was appointed General Manger, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS) from 2007 to 2009.
In 2010, he was appointed Chairman, Governing Council of Abia State College of Health Technology, Aba. During the period, he facilitated the accreditation of three critical courses in the institution by the NBTE.
In 2011, he was reappointed General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS), a position he held until June 2013, when he was appointed the first Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) Aba and Environs.
Dr Ikpeazu is a devout member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. A member of the Biochemical Society of Nigeria, the Nigeria Environmental Society and Rotary Club of Eziukwu Aba.
He is happily married to Mrs. Nkechi Okezie Ikpeazu, and the marriage is blessed with four children.
Major achievements in office
Even under the barrage of various litigations by his political opponents, Governor Ikpeazu is already considered by many observers as the most successful Governor of Abia State since the state was created in 1991.
Within his first year in office, he awarded contracts for the reconstruction of 67 roads in the state with 25 fully delivered and commissioned. He also introduced rigid pavement technology (cement technology) in road construction at Aba with all the roads having dual drainage lines terminating into major drainage pipes.
Governor Ikpeazu executed the first major street lighting project at Aba and Umuahia with the aim of securing the streets and extending business hours.
Other achievements recorded by his government so far are listed in the achievement page of this website.
Article from www.okezievictorikpeazu.com.