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.

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.

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)

The central organ of the OAU was established in Cairo in 1994 as a mechanism for resolving these conflicts.

In his tenure, Nigeria retained her membership of the central organ in the three

successive elections which were conducted annually.

He was appointed Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1995.

He was appointed Foreign Affairs Minister March 1995

Ikimi 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, delivering the national position address on April 18, 1995.

[citation needed]

Additionally, Ikimi headed the delegation to the Ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Bandung, Indonesia, from April 25 to 27, 1995.

Ikimi represented the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief, at the 40th Anniversary Meeting of the Movement of Non-Aligned countries in Bandung, Indonesia, on April 28, 1995.

Taking charge of the delegation, Ikimi oversaw Nigeria's participation in the Special UN Security Council Session for Foreign Ministers in New York City, delivering the country’s statement on September 26, 1995.

Ikimi led the delegation to the 50th Commemorative Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from September to December 1995, delivering Nigeria's statement to the Assembly on October 3, 1995.

Serving as the President of the United Nations Security Council in October 1995, Ikimi hosted Pope John Paul II at the UN 50th Anniversary celebration in the capacity as President of the Security Council.

Ikimi represented the Head of State, Commander-in-Chief, at the summit meeting of the Non-Aligned member countries of the United Nations Security Council in New York City on October 4, 1995.

He has been chairman of ECOWAS council of ministers and ECOWAS committee of Nine on Liberia(C-9) from 26 July 1996.

Continuing leadership, Ikimi headed the delegation to the 51st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from September to December 1996, delivering Nigeria's statement on October 3, 1996.

Additionally, Ikimi led the delegation to the 52nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from September to December 1997, delivering Nigeria's statement on September 23, 1997.

The violent overthrow of the government of president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah on 25 May 1997 posed a threat not only to the peace and security of Sierra Leone but also the security and stability of the West African Sub-region.

Furthermore, Ikimi led the delegation to the Ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement in Cartagena, Colombia, from May 18 to 20, 1998, delivering Nigeria's statement on May 19, 1998.

Ikimi also represented the Head of State at the 11th Summit of the Non-Aligned countries in Cartagena, Colombia, from October 18 to 20, 1998, delivering Nigeria's statement on October 18, 1998.

As chairman of the committee of four and five on Sierra Leone, he led negotiations and coordinated the delicate operations leading to the successful restoration of the government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah on 10 March 1998.

He led the ECOWAS Team and was the first to enter Sierra Leone to assess the situation on the ground after the liberation of Freetown from the rebels by ECOMOG Forces 18–19 February 1998 to permit the return of president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah from exile in Conakry.

His tenure as Foreign Minister coincided with the period when the West African sub-region and indeed much of Africa was beset with conflicts, which including civil wars in Angola, Rwanda/Burundi, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), the Sudan, Liberia, Somalia and Sierra Leone.