Little to no introduction is needed when late Alvan Ikoku is being discussed. Ikoku is the face on the N10 note, an educationist, politician, and activist. Here are 5 interesting facts about him everyone should know.
1, He was born August 1, 1900, in Amanagwu Arochukwu, known today as Abia state. Ikoku was born to an Igbo father and an Efik Mother from Cross Rivers state.
2, Ikoku’s father died three months after his arrival hence the name ”Alvina” which means ”coming after your father.”
3, While working as a student teacher at Itigidi in Cross Rivers state, Ikoku met his wife, Goomsu, an Efik woman with whom he had 6 children. She was also a brilliant organist.
4, Ikoku and one of his kids Samuel Goomsu (1922-1997) were political rivals. Samuel won against his father in the eastern Regional Assembly elections conducted on March 15, 1957
5, Ikoku served as the principal at Agrrey for 39 years where he introduced ‘Carpentry” as a subject he referred to as ”Education of the hand.” His students took an interest and went on to make their tables and chairs.
6, As the president of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, Ikoku not only fought for the rights of teachers, he also slammed the educational system at the time for its failure to teach indigenous languages in schools.
7, He died at the age of 71 from a heart-related ailment at the Aba general hospital. He was a practicing protestant until his death
