American business Tim Flores may not be a Nigerian but he tended to share same feelings with a Nigerian of note on certain issues when he said, quote “A total commitment is paramount to reaching the ultimate in performance” unquote.
Obviously, when one views the actions of an eminent Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Eleazar Uche Ikonne, a Professor of Optometry, in terms of his passion to commitment to duty, one would not agree less with the American.
Of course, various authorities have proven the fact that without commitment you cannot have depth in anything because that commitment leads to action and that action brings your dream closer while while same commitment is what keeps you going.
Actually, Professor Ikonne has risen to stardom today because he has reasoned alongside Joe Girard that the most important thing is to dare to dream big, then take action to make it come through.
This is in sharp contrast to those who sit on the sidelines and wish things would happen.
This is the rationale behind the success story of Abia State University that has improved in ranking in the Webometric ranking of Universities in Nigeria from 93rd on Prof Ikonne’s assumption of office in 2015, to the 30th position.
Again, Abia State University is placed at 17th among over 200 Universities in Nigeria, on the employability status of its graduates.
His tenure has seen to the connection of the University to the National Grid after 36 years of existence and the improvement in the delivery of Inaugural Lecture by Professors from 19th (between 1981-2015) on assumption of office, to 48th by July 2019.
There is also a record improvement on the Academic content of the University with the introduction of Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical/Electronic Engineering, ICT, Surveying and Geoinformatics Physiology, Anatomy, Pharmacy, Civil Engineering and Public Health & Pharmacy.
The Prof has also ensured full accreditation status of academic programmes in the University by the NUC and relevant professional bodies, and subsequent increase in the admission quote for Medicine, after more than 20 years.
All these have gone to confirm Michael Jordan’s mindset when he said “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don’t do things half heartedly because I know that if I do, then I can expect half hearted results”.
In fact, given his records, one would agree with Vince Lombardi that leaders are made, they are not born; they are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.
And just as his compatriot acknowledged, you have to perform at a consistently higher level than others; that’s the mark of a true professional.
Of course, he did not bump into the system unprepared because on assumption of office as the 7th Substantive Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Distinguished Professor Ikonne unveiled his vision, mission and strategies for the University in a document captioned: “My Mandate: Our Story Must Change”.
So, the story of Abia State University has positively changed in various ways, apart from the ones mentioned earlier.
He attracted nine (9) brand new vehicles from the Governor of Abia State and Visitor to the University, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D, for the Provost and Deans of Faculties, ensured three years of uninterrupted academic activities in the University, thereby allowing to graduate as and when due and relocated the Faculty of Law to a more conducive environment at the State Capital, Umuahia, among others.
Prior to this time, he held administrative offices including Acting Rector, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, September 2014-December 2015, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) 2011-2014, Deputy Provost, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Director, Institute for Distance Studies, Head of Department, Department of Optometry.
Apart from having a Ph.D in Environmental Health Sciences, he also Doctor of Optometry degree from Manila Central University, Philippines, on scholarship by the Greater Imo State Government and he is a Fellow of the Nigerian College of Optometry and World Council of Optometry, USA with Specialty in Primary Care Optometry.
He has over fifty articles in peer-review: national and international journals, two reference Books on Clinical Application of Diagnostic Procedure in Optometry.
He delivered the 18th Inaugural Lecture of Abia State University entitled “Seeing is Believing, Ahunanya Ekwe, The Paradigm of the Child Development”
As a Doyen of Optometry Education in Nigeria, he has at various times served as External Examiner to University of Benin, Imo State University, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Madonna University, Okija, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, etc.
He has also been the Chairman and Member, National University Commission Accreditation Team to various Universities at various times as well as Member, National Research Fund-Screening Committee of TETFund.
Professor Ikonne has served his Professional Body in various capacities including, Registra, Nigerian Post-graduate College of Optometrists, Member, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria, Vice Chairman, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Board of Nigeria and was recently appointed Chairman, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
He has numerous Awards of Excellence and recognition from notable Civil Societies, Churches, Professional Bodies and the Media.
The Prof is happily married to Lady Uzoamaka G. Uche Ikonne, a Barrister and Permanent Secretary in Abia State Government and the marriage is blessed with two quality children.
Therefore, both the University Community and the public should give this cerebral, distinguished academic the support the support to sustain the effort in order to take the Institution to the next level.
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