The Prof Chimere Ikoku Memorial Lecture debuts on Wednesday, October 12, 2016. Prof Ikoku was a two-time Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Educationist and African Nationalist.

The maiden edition of the Lecture will hold at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, UNN, according to information released by the Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, signed by Professor P.O Ukoha, immediate past Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences of the university. He said that the maiden Lecture is titled ‘Chimere Ikoku, Chemist, Scholar and Statesman’ is intended to highlight the life and contributions of the late academic heavyweight.

Information released by the university indicates that the Lecture, billed to start at 10am, will focus on late Ikoku’s contributions towards scholarship, human and national development, and African liberation struggles. The lecture will be delivered by Professor A.A. Zuru, the Vice Chancellor of Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto.

It would be recalled that late Prof Ikoku, son of the foremost educationist and founder of Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), late Dr Alvan Ikoku, served as the UNN VC from 1985 to 1992. He was also the first indigenous Head of the Department of Chemistry in the school, as well as the first VC of the Federal University of Technology, Abeokuta in 1982.

Late Ikoku was DeputyVice Chancellor of Usman Dan Fodio University between 1978-82, and aside serving as a member of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), was also among scientists who set up the Nigerian Council for Science and Technology back in 1973.

He was also Vice Chairman, National Committee on South Africa (NACSA), 1976; Chairman, National Committee on Apartheid (NACAP), 1979 and President of the Pan African Students Organization in the Americas (PASO), 1953 among others.

The late Professor contributed immensely to science education, African liberation & national development.

•Photo shows late Prof Chimere Ikoku.

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