Okezie Victor Ikpeazu is the 9th and current Governor of Abia State, in office since May 29, 2015. He was elected on the platform of the Peoples 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, in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Okezie 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 sat for his West African School Certificate Examination in 1979. In 1980, at the age of 16, he gained admission into the University of Maiduguri to study Clinical Biochemistry and graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons) Second Class Upper Division, in August, 1984.
From August 1984 to August 1985, he served as a clinical biochemist in the medical laboratory of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, 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.
Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu joined the PDP and secured the party’s ticket to vie for Abia state gubernatorial election in March 2015. He won the election and was inaugurated as Abia State Governor on 29th May 2015.
Some achievements recorded so far by the Okezie Ikpeazu administration –
At inauguration, Governor Ikpeazu anchored his developmental agenda on the 5 pillars of agriculture, education, infrastructure, trade and commerce as well as oil and gas.
In the Agricultural Sector –
The administration provided mechanized farming equipment across the state through leasing at affordable rates; It provided fertilizers to farmers at subsidized rates; Enhanced poultry and fish production with phase 1 of 100 poultry pens of 2000 birds executed; Constructed 165,000 capacity poultry processing plant at Umuosu; 300 young Abia farmers are now benefitting from N2.5m per person grant as part of Farmpreneur project of World Bank (FADAMA).
In the Education Sector –
Launched education for employment (E4E) scheme that has already produced 472 graduates with relevant skills in ICT – Database of unemployed Abians completed with Abia state job portal launched; it is retraining Abia teachers, in partnership with Australian education providers, to enhance teaching efficiency – More than 200 teachers have benefited so far; Renovated 32 schools across the 3 geopolitical zones; It constructed 15 new water Boreholes for schools in Abia State; It reduced school fees at ABSU, Abiapoly and College of Education Arochukwu to support Abia parents and guardians.
The administration has launched a unified education platform for all schools in the state. Results and activities of all Abia school children can be monitored from one platform for private and public schools.
