Meet Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu... Early life and Education Okezie Chibuikem Ikpeazu, Ph.D, a renowned biochemist, teacher and a highly acknowledged public servant, 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 enrolled into Amaise Central Primary School, Umuobiakwa in 1969. In 1973 while in primary five, he took the common entrance examination into Eziama High School, Aba and later moved to Ihie High School, Isiala Ngwa, where he took his School certificate examination in 1979. At the age of 16, 1980, to be precise, Okezie proceeded to the University of Maiduguri, Borno State to study Clinical Biochemistry. They were only six undergraduates in the class, out of which he alone made a B.Sc Degree Second Class Upper Division in Clinical Biochemistry at graduation in August, 1984. From August 1984 to August 1985, Dr. Ikpeazu was at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) in Port Harcourt for his one year NYSC programme, and served as one of the clinical biochemists in the medical laboratory of the university. Upon completion of his NYSC, Dr. Ikpeazu returned to the University of Maiduguri for a master of science degree programme. There were two of them admitted for the programme, but Dr. Ikpeazu graduated alone with an M.Sc in Biochemical Toxicology, in 1990. In 1994, at the age of 30, Dr. Ikpeazu obtained a Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D, in Biochemical Pharmacology from the University of Calabar. He was also the only graduant in a class of three on admission. CAREER/PUBLIC SERVICE While in Maiduguri for his M.Sc degree programme, Dr. Ikpeazu served as a Graduate-Assistant, in the Department of Science Laboratory Technology, University of Maiduguri, from 1986 to 1987. Also, while in Calabar for his Ph.D programme, he taught at the Calabar Polytechnic from 1990 to 1992. Between 1994 and 1996, Dr. Ikpeazu had a stint in the corporate world, serving as an Administrative Manager with Cash Bond Investments and Credits Ltd, Lagos. Between 1998 and 2001, 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 the position of Head of Department. He was also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Department of Biochemistry, Ebonyi State University College of Basic Medical Sciences, from 2000 to 2002. He was a Masters Degree External Examiner, to the Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, from 2003 to 2004. In 2002, Dr. Ikpeazu served as the maiden Transition Committee (TC) Chairman for Obingwa Local Government Area. This marked his entry into politics. He also served as Special Adviser on Environment and Sanitation to the Governor of Abia State. From 2007 to 2009, he was appointed General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS). Within the period, he turned around the fortunes of ASPIMSS, and made it a revenue yielding agency of the state. 2009 to 2010, he was Chairman, Governing Council of Abia State College of Health Technology, Aba. During his tenure, he ensured the accreditation of three critical courses in the institution by the NBTE. He equally set up the administrative and academic structures of the college from the scratch. Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu was in 2011, reappointed General Manager, Abia State Passengers Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS), a position he held till 2013. He was appointed the first Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) Aba and Environs in 2013, an assignment he is creditably discharging to the admiration of not only the Aba populace, but the entire Abia State and beyond, thus interpreting the ideals and vision of Chief T.A Orji on environmental and waste management in Aba. This has earned him over 72 awards from churches, local and international, NGOs etc. He is a member of Biochemical Society of Nigeria, and also a member of Nigeria Environmental Society. He is a Trustee and the President, Eastern Ngwa Country Sports Club of Nigeria. He is a member of Rotary Club of Eziukwu Aba. He is happily married to Mrs. Nkechi Okezie Ikpeazu, and the marriage is blessed with four kids.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 16:46:59 +0000
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