Professor Chukwuemeka Ike was born to Maizi Charles Chinwuba Ike and Mrs. Dinah M Ike on 28 April 1935 at Ndikelionwu in present day Orumba North Local Governments Area of Anambra State of Nigeria. H e received primary education at Aro Settlement School, Nnewi (1944). He received secondary education at Governments College, Umuahia in present day Abia State (1945 1950), and his undergraduate education at University College, Idadan (1951 1955), from where he obtained the BA (London) degree. He obtained the MA degree from Stanford University, USA, in January 1967

Prior to his undergraduate career, he taught at CMS Central School, Amichi (1950 1951). On graduation, he became the first Graduate Teacher at Girls’ Secondary School (later St. Catharine’s) Nkwerre, Orlu (1955 1956). He switched to a career in university administration in January 1957, beginning as Administrative Assistant and rising rapidly to Assistant Registrar in charge of student welfare at University of College, Ibadan (1957 1960). In October 1960, he joined the pioneer staff of University Nigeria, Nsukka, as Deputy Registrar. In March 1963, he became the first Nigeria Registrar of the University, a post he held until 1971.

At the end of the Nigeria/Biafra War in January 1970, the Administrator of East Central State appointed him Chairman of the Planning & Management Committee which reopened the war battered university and managed its affairs until the appointment of a regular Governing Council in November 1970. In that capacity, he served as Interim Chief Executive of the University, combining the functions of Chairman of the Governing Council and Vice-Chancellor at a most critical period of reintegration into Nigeria by the University in particular and Ndigbo in general.

In August 1971, he retired voluntarily from the University and accepted appointment as Registrar & Chief Executive of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the first Nigeria to attain to that position. He moved with his family to Accra, Ghana, the headquarters of the Council. It was during his tenure (1971 1979) that WAEC cut its umbilical cord with the Universities of Cambridge and London, the Royal Society of Arts, and City & Guilds of London Institute, becoming a truly independent Council whose certificates received national and international recognition and whose services and counsel were sought by examining councils in the developing Commonwealth.

The Republic of Liberia, with its historical link Registrar, City & Guilds of London Institute conferred its Honorary Fellowship on him in 1978. He became the first Nigerian to receive the award, equivalent to an honorary doctorate degree of the University of London, of which City & Guilds was a part.

Ike gave more time to what had been his primary hobby Creative Writing when he retired voluntarily from WAEC and the public service in July 1979. He was later invited to teach English on contract at the University of Jos as Visiting Professor, becoming the first Nigerian to teach Creative Writing at Professorial rank (1983 1985).

Professor Ike, at various times, served as Chairman, Commonwealth Planning committee on public Examinations, Accra, Ghana (1973), Chairman, 4th International Conference on Educational Assessment, Baden, Austria (1978), Chairman, Culture Sector, and Member, Nigerian Delegation and Chief Spokesmen for Culture, General Conference of UNESCO, Paris, France (1989 and 1991), Chairman, National Anti-Piracy Committee (1991 1994), Member, Nigerian Copyright Council now Commission (1989 1994), Chairman, Seminar on Book Development & Reading in the ECOWAS Sub-Region, Ibadan ( January 1990), Member, Anambra State Elders Forum/Advisory Council since January 2008.

Professor Ike has served as Director, Daily Time of Nigeria Plc (1971 1987), Short-term Consultant to the Bostswana, Lesotho and Swaziland Schools Examinations Council, Under the auspices of the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (October 1974), Director, University Press Plc (1978 2002).

Other public service appointments held by Professor Ike include Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Governing Council, University of Benin (1990 1991), and Pioneer Pro-Chancellor & Chairman of Council, Anambra State University (2001 2005). He served on the Visitation Panel to the one-time Anambra State University of Technology (1988).

In the non-governmental, non-profit sector, Professor Ike was the brain behind the establishment of the Nigerian Book Foundation, and has served as its President& Chief Executive since 1993. He was also the brain behind the establishment of Nigerian Book Fair Trust which runs the annual Nigeria International Book Fair. His dedication to national book development has earned him many awards.

In the religious sector, Professor Ike served as Honorary Organizing Secretary i/c Eastern Region, Student Christian Movement of Nigeria (1956), Member, General Synod of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion (1995 2002), and Member of its Standing Committee (1998 2001), Chairman, Synod Report Editorial Board, Diocese of Awka, Anglican Communion (1996 2005), Chairman, Diocesan Education Committee, Diocesan Economic Empowerment Committee, and Diocesan Church Centre Ndikelionwu Committee, Diocese of Aguata, Anglican Communion (2005 2006), et cetera. He is a Life Member of the Bible Society of Nigeria.

Professor Ike is acknowledged nationally and internationally as a major Creative Writer. A list of his published fiction and non-fiction books appears at the end of the profile.

A fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM) since 1987, Professor Ike has received national and International honors in recognition of his achievements. The major awards/honours include the following:

1978: Hon FCGI (Honorary Fellow, City & Guilds of London Institute)
1987: Honorary Fellow in Writing, University of lowa, lowa, USA
1994: Distinguished Friend of the Council (WAEC) Award, the West African Examinations Council
1998: Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) honoris causa, University of Nigeria Nsukka
2000: Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) honoris causa, University of Lagos
2000: Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of Ibadan Alumni Association
2001: Honours Award, National Council for Arts & Culture
2001: National Honours in the rank of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR)
2003: Recognition Award, Nigeria International Book Fair
2006: Outstanding Achievement Award, Nigerian Booksellers Association
2007: Award of Honour, Anambra State University
2007: Award for Excellence, Nigerian Book Fair Trust, Eastern Zone
2008: Fonlon-Nicholas Award, conferred by the African Literature Association at its 34th Annual Conference held at Eastern IIIionis University, Macomb, IIIiois, USA, 25 April 2008

Professor Ike married Professor (Mrs.) Adebimpe Olurisola Ike (nee Abimbolu) on 13 December 1959 at the Chapel of Resurrection, University College, Ibadan. They have a son, Prince Ositadinma Adeolu Nnanyelugo Olusanya IKE, grand son, Chukwuemeka Ike (II), and a grand daughter, Adaeze Adebimpe Ike.

PROFESSOR IKE’S PUBLICATIONS (limited to books only)

Fiction
1. Toads for Supper, London, The Harvill Press Ltd./Fontana, 1965
2. The Naked Gods, London, The Harvill Press Ltd./Fontana, 1970
3. (a) The Potter’s Wheel, London, The Harvill Press Ltd./Fontana, 1973
(b) The Potter’s Wheel, abridged by Lewis Jones, London, Collins English Library Series, 1986
4. Sunset at Dawn, London, Collins & Harvill Press Ltd./ Fontana, 1976
5. The Chicken Chasers, London, Fontana, 1980
6. Expo’77, London, Fontana, 1980
7. The bottled Leopard, Ibadan, University Press Plc, 1985
8. Our Children Are Coming!, Ibadan, Spectrum Books Ltd., 1990
9. The Search, Ibadan, Heinemann Educational Books (Nigeria) Plc, 1991
10. To My Husband, From lowa, (fictional travelogue), Lagos, Malthouse Press Ltd, 1996
11. Anu Ebu Nwa (IGBO), Ibadan, University Press Plc, 1999
12. Conspiracy of Silence, Ikeja/Lagos, Longman Nigeria Plc, 2001
13. Toads for Ever, Ikeja/Lagos, Longman Nigeria Plc, 2007
14. Accra Riviera, (short stories), Lagos, Oyster St. Iyke (Ltd), 2001

Non-Fiction
1. University Development in Africa: The Nigerian Experience, Ibadan, Oxford University Press, 1976
2. Whither, O Splendid Ship? (monograph), University of Jos Postgraduate Open Lecture Series, 1984
3. Hoe To Become A Published Writer, Ibadan, Heinemann Educational Books Plc, 1991
4. Not In Our Stars(monograph), The West African Examination Council, 1998 (3rd Annual Endowment Lecture)

Non-Fiction Books Edited by Professor Chukwuemeka Ike

1. University of Nigeria 1960 1985: An Experiment in Higher Education, Nsukka, University of Nigeria Press Ltd, 1986, (jointly edited with Emmanuel Obiechina and JA Umeh)
2. Creating a Conducive Environment for Book Publishing (editor), Awka, Nigerian Book Foundation, 1996
3. Meeting the Book Needs of the Rural Family (editor), Awka, Nigerian Book Foundation, 1997
4. Directory of Nigerian Book Development (editor), Awka, Nigerian Book Foundation and Fourth Dimension Publishing Co. Ltd., 1998
5. Ndikelionwu and the Spread of Christianity (editor), Ndikelionwu, St Margaret’s Church Ndikelionwu, 2000
6. The Book in 21st Century Nigeria and Universal Basic Education (editor), Awka, Nigerian Book Foundation, 2000
7. Creating and Sustaining a Reading Culture (editor), Awka, Nigerian Book Foundation, 2000
8. Centenary Edition: Ndikelionwu and the Spread of Christianity (editor), Ndikelionwu, St Margaret’s Church Ndikelionwu, 2008

Not Listed - Short Stories, Chapters in books, Journal Articles, Conference Papers, Interviews 31 August 2008