This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Silas Omugbe (talk | contribs) at 22:08, 6 January 2024 (First Editing). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 22:08, 6 January 2024 by Silas Omugbe (talk | contribs) (First Editing)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Donald Nnaemeka Ike (21 August 1946 – 7 September 2021) was a Nigerian professor of economics, banker, and politician. He was at various times a professor of economics at the then Anambra State University of Technology (Now Enugu State University of Science and Technology), Delta State University, Covenant University, and Caleb University. He was a senatorial candidate, a board member and director of various financial institutions, and served as assistant general manager of United Bank for Africa. His main research area was in the field of development economics.
Early Life and Education
Donald was born on August 21, 1946, in the city of Jos, Nigeria, to Magistrate George Nwokike Ike and Elfrida Nwaewulu Ike. He attended Government Secondary School, Afikpo from 1961 to 1965, and earned a scholarship to study in the United States. He obtained his first degree from Fresno State University, California, in 1969, and subsequently obtained his Master of Arts, and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1970 and 1973, respectively.
Professional Career
Donald's professional career began in the Ministry of Economic Development and Reconstruction, Government of the East Central State, where he served as principal planning officer from 1974 to 1975. He then became head of the finance department at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) for ten years from 1975 to 1985. He later became a professor of Economics at Anambra State University of Technology, where he was appointed head of the finance department for five years from 1986 to 1991. From 1991 to 1996, he served as the Assistant General Manager of United Bank for Africa and left the banking industry to focus solely on academics in 1996. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors, Federal Mortgage Finance Company Ltd., Lagos, and was an associate director, Finance Institutions Training Center, Lagos, from 1992 to 1993. He became a professor of finance and banking as well as the coordinator of undergraduate programs at Delta State University's executive part-time programs in 1997. He later joined Covenant University, Ota, as a Professor of Economics and later became head of the department from 2007 to 2012. After leaving Covenant University, he joined Caleb University, Imota, Lagos, as a Professor of Economics and head of department from 2013 to 2018. He retired from active work in 2018.
Political Career
Donald also ventured into politics during the era of the Second Republic. He held various political offices, including an administrative position in the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), where he ran for the 1979 Anambra senatorial elections but lost to the Nigeria People’s Party (NPP). He was also the chief organization secretary of Nigeria People’s Party (NPP) from 1978 to 1979, a member of Anambra State Think Tank on Revenue Generation Economic Resuscitation from 1986 to 1988, and a member of Anambra State Governor's Study Group in 1987. He retired from active politics after an assassination attempt on his life in 1989.
Membership and fellowship
Donald Ike was an active participant of many professional, government and social bodies, notable of which are :
· The Nigerian Economic Society since 1978.
· Life member of the Nigerian Finance Association since 1987.
· Member, Anambra State think tank on revenue generation and economic resuscitation (1986-1988).
· Member, Anambra state governor’s study group (1987).
· Member, Ndikelionwu Welfare Association.
· One-time director of the Financial Institutions training Center, 1992-1993.
Achievements
Donald Nnaemeka Ike has been listed as a noteworthy Banker, economist by Marquis.
He has been listed in the prestigious Who’s Who in the world (1996) by Marquis, a publishing house which started publishing biographies of renowned individuals from around the world in 1899.
From 1996 till date, he has been consistently listed in the BLERF’s (Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation) Who’s Who in Nigeria.
Other Interests
Donald had other interests, including reading, writing, playing lawn tennis, squash, and walking.
Awards
He was a recipient of the Scholar Phelps Stokes Fund in 1969.
Personal Life
Donald was married to Gloria Ngozi Ike (nee Anyanwu) on 22 May 1982, and they had three children: George Ike, Ugoada Ike, and Dike Ike. He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren. He died after a brief illness on 7 September 2021.
Publications
Selected publications by Donald include "Estimating Agricultural Production Functions for Some Farm Families in Western Nigeria" (1977).