| Chief Tom Ikimi | |
| Office: | Foreign Affairs Minister |
| Term Start: | 1995 |
| Term End: | 1998 |
| Birth Date: | April 10, 1944 |
| Residence: | Edo state |
| Profession: | Politician |
| Website: | http://www.chieftomikimi.net |
Chief Tom Ikimi (born 10 April 1944) is a Nigerian politician and architect who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1995 to 1998.[1] He was appointed chairman of ECOWAS council of ministers and ECOWAS committee of Nine on Liberia (C-9) on 26 July 1996. He has also served as chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) and was a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tom Ikimi was born in Kumba, Southern British Cameroon (modern-day Cameroon) to John Onile Ikimi and Victoria Isiemoa Ikimi, both from Igueben, Igueben Local Government Area, Edo State. He attended St. Joseph's College, Sasse, Buea, Southern Cameroons from 1957 to 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 to 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 to 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 programme serving in Ibadan, western Nigeria from 1973 to 74. Architect in the firm of planning partnership later IBRU Vaughan Richards & Partners, Lagos from 1974 to 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)
He was appointed Foreign Affairs Minister March 1995[2]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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.[3]
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. 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 threesuccessive elections which were conducted annually. Aside from the several meetings of the OAU council of ministers, Ikimi represented Nigerian Head of State at the summit meeting of the Central Organ of the OAU Mechanism for the Prevention, Management and Resolution of Conflicts in Tunis, 20 April 1995. He also Led Nigeria’ delegation to the 31st OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - 26–28 June 1995, also in Cameroon, 9–10 July 1996 at the 32 OAU Assembly. Zimbabwe, 1–3 June 1997 and Burkina Faso, 8 June 1998.
He was honoured by Pope John Paul II in 1993 with the Knight of St. Gregory The Great (KSG). In March 2003, he was honoured by the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, with a D.Sc. in Architecture. He was honoured with the title, Akinrogun of Ife by the Ooni of Ife, in 1991. He Inherited the family title of the Inneh of Igueben, in his homeland of Igueben, Esanland, Edo State, in 1988. The title Oduma of Igueben was conferred upon him by the community in 1993.
He is married, with three sons and a daughter. He is a Roman Catholic.