Alvan Ikoku
Encyclopedia
Alvan Ikoku was a Nigerian educator, statesman, activist and politician. Born on August 1, 1900 in Arochukwu
, present day Abia State
, he was educated at Government School and Hope Waddell College, Calabar
. In 1920, he received his first teaching appointment with the Presbyterian
Church of Scotland at Itigidi and two years later became a senior tutor at St. Paul's Teachers' Training College, Awka, Anambra State
. While teaching at Awka, Ikoku earned his University of London
degree in Philosophy in 1928, through its external programme.
Soon after, in 1931, Ikoku established one of the earliest private secondary schools in Nigeria: the Aggrey Memorial College, located in Arochukwu and named after James E.K. Aggrey
, an eminent Ghanaian
educationist. In 1946, after several constitutional changes allowing more Nigerians in the legislative chambers, he was nominated to the Eastern Nigeria House of Assembly and assigned to the ministry of education. In 1947 he became part of the Legislative Council in Lagos as one of three representatives of the Eastern Region.
Ikoku fostered considerable government interest in the Nigeria Union of Teachers
(NUT), becoming instrumental in the Legislative Council's acceptance of 44 NUT proposals amending various educational ordinances. He encountered resistance through much of the 1950s, when the Colonial Government rejected NUT recommendations for the introduction of uniform education in Nigeria. However, Ikoku and his union were vindicated after national independence when the recommendations became the foundation of official policy on education.
Upon retiring from government politics, Ikoku served on various educational bodies in the country. He was a member of the West African Educational Council (WAEC) and the Council of the University of Ibadan
as well as Chairman, Board of Governors of the Aviation Training Centre. Honours for his contribution to education in Nigeria include an honorary Doctorate in Law (1965) at a special convocation of the University of Ibadan, the establishment of the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri
, and his commemoration on a bill of Nigerian currency, the Ten Naira note. He died on November 18, 1971.
Arochukwu
Arochukwu, sometimes referred to as Arochuku, or Aro-Okigbo, is the third largest city in Abia State in southeastern Nigeria and homeland of the Igbo subgroup, Aro people....
, present day Abia State
Abia State
Abia State is a state in southeastern Nigeria. The capital is Umuahia, although the major commercial city is Aba, formerly a British colonial government outpost. The state was created in 1991 from part of Imo State and its citizens are predominantly Igbo people...
, he was educated at Government School and Hope Waddell College, Calabar
Calabar
Calabar is a city in Cross River State, southeastern Nigeria. The original name for Calabar was Atakpa, from the Jukun language....
. In 1920, he received his first teaching appointment with the Presbyterian
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
Church of Scotland at Itigidi and two years later became a senior tutor at St. Paul's Teachers' Training College, Awka, Anambra State
Anambra State
Anambra is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Its name is an anglicized version of the original 'Oma Mbala', the native name of the Anambra River. The Capital and the Seat of Government is Awka. Onitsha and Nnewi are the biggest commercial and industrial cities, respectively. The state's theme is...
. While teaching at Awka, Ikoku earned his University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
degree in Philosophy in 1928, through its external programme.
Soon after, in 1931, Ikoku established one of the earliest private secondary schools in Nigeria: the Aggrey Memorial College, located in Arochukwu and named after James E.K. Aggrey
James Aggrey
James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey was an intellectual, missionary, and teacher. He was a native of the Gold Coast who later emigrated to the United States, but returned to Africa for several years....
, an eminent Ghanaian
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
educationist. In 1946, after several constitutional changes allowing more Nigerians in the legislative chambers, he was nominated to the Eastern Nigeria House of Assembly and assigned to the ministry of education. In 1947 he became part of the Legislative Council in Lagos as one of three representatives of the Eastern Region.
Ikoku fostered considerable government interest in the Nigeria Union of Teachers
Nigeria Union of Teachers
Nigeria Union of Teachers is a major trade union in Nigeria. It was formed to create a united front for practitioners of the teaching profession in the country...
(NUT), becoming instrumental in the Legislative Council's acceptance of 44 NUT proposals amending various educational ordinances. He encountered resistance through much of the 1950s, when the Colonial Government rejected NUT recommendations for the introduction of uniform education in Nigeria. However, Ikoku and his union were vindicated after national independence when the recommendations became the foundation of official policy on education.
University of Ibadan
The University of Ibadan is the oldest Nigerian university, and is located five miles from the centre of the major city of Ibadan in Western Nigeria...
as well as Chairman, Board of Governors of the Aviation Training Centre. Honours for his contribution to education in Nigeria include an honorary Doctorate in Law (1965) at a special convocation of the University of Ibadan, the establishment of the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri
Owerri
Owerri is the capital of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of the Igboland. Owerri consists of three Local Govern Areas including Owerri Municipal, Owerri North and Owerri West, it has an estimated population of about 400,000 as of 2006...
, and his commemoration on a bill of Nigerian currency, the Ten Naira note. He died on November 18, 1971.
