Tom Ikimi
Chief Tom Ikimi (born 10 April 1944) in Kumba-Southern, British Cameroons (modern-day Cameroon) to John Onile Ikimi and Victoria Isiemoa Ikimi, both from Igueben (Igueben Local Government Area- Edo State). He is married, with three sons and a daughter. He is a Roman Catholic. He was appointed Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1995. He has been chairman of ECOWAS council of ministers and ECOWAS committee of Nine on Liberia(C-9) from 26 July 1996. Early life and education Tom Ikimi attended St. Joseph's College, Sasse-Buea, Southern Cameroons 1957–1961. He was a pioneer student of the Midwestern Polytechnic, Auchi, Midwestern Nigeria, (now Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State) for his technical education from January 1966 - December 1967 (Building and Civil Engineering) where he obtained Ordinary National Diploma. He was a pioneer member of the Students Union, a keen sportsman and established the College Athletics Club. His professional education in Architecture was at the Ahmadu Bello University, Architectural School, Zaria from 1968 - 1973, where he obtained the B. Arch (Hons)degree. Ikimi was a member of the student union and National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS). He moved the motion in late 1970 at the NUNS convention in Zaria to readmit the Eastern Unions back into the NUNS at the end of the civil war. He was a pioneer member of the National Youth Service Corps Program serving in Ibadan, western [Nigeria] in 1973 - 74. Architect in the firm of planning partnership later IBRU Vaughan Richards & Partners, Lagos from 1974 - 1977 and was made Associate partner in 1975. Established his own firm, Tom Ikimi Design Company in May 1977 and executed a number of private and commercial projects within and outside Nigeria (1977 - 1993). He later won the international competition for the new OAU office and conference Centre project, Addis Ababa Ethiopia. He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA) and has business interests in construction, trade and farming. Positions held Member Constituent Assembly — 1988/89, Member Chapter 2 Committee “Fundamental Objectives and Directives Principles of State Policy”. National Chairman- National Republican Convention Party — 1990–1992. He was the Special Adviser To the Head Of State, Commander-In-Chief, General Sani Abacha in February, 1994 where he prepared the memo for the establishment of the highly successful Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) He was appointed Foreign Affairs Minister March 1995 Functions at the United Nation Led Nigeria's delegation to the Review/Extension Conference of the Parties to the treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in New York City and delivered Nigeria's national position address to the conference 18 April 1995. Led Nigeria's delegation to the Ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) at Bandung, Indonesia, 25–27 April 1995. Represented the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief at the 40th Anniversary Meeting of the Movement of Non-Aligned countries, Bandung, Indonesia, 28 April 1995. Led Nigeria's delegation to the Ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement at Cartagena, Colombia, 18–20 May 1998 and delivered Nigeria's