By Emmanuel Thomas l Monday, Oct. 19, 2026
UMUAHIA — Prominent academic, entrepreneur, and former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State, Professor Gregory Ikechukwu Ibe, is dead.
He was 63.
His passing was confirmed in an official statement released on Monday by the royal family of HRH Eze Cyril Ibe of Okwelube I, Amaokwe Achara Autonomous Community in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State.
According to the statement, the renowned educationist and philanthropist died after battling health challenges.
“With deep sadness, but with gratitude to Almighty God for a life of purpose, impact, and service, we announce the passing of our beloved father, brother, grandfather, patriarch, and an exceptional man, Prof. Gregory Ikechukwu Ibe, OFR,” the family stated.
“A distinguished academic, administrator, philanthropist, statesman, entrepreneur, and educationist, Prof. Ibe dedicated his life to expanding access to education, uplifting the less privileged, and serving humanity”.
The family added that through initiatives like Gregory University Uturu, Skill ‘G’ Nigeria Ltd., and Innov8 Hub, Prof. Ibe impacted thousands of lives and left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s educational and entrepreneurial landscape.
The family stated that funeral arrangements will be announced in due course and requested privacy as they mourn.
Born on December 10, 1963, in Kaduna, Prof. Gregory Ibe hailed from Uturu in Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State.
He was best known as the Founder and Chancellor of Gregory University, Uturu (GUU), a private institution founded in 2012 that gained prominent recognition for its focus on entrepreneurship, practical skills development, and innovation.
Beyond academia, Prof. Ibe was a pioneer in industrial training and educational infrastructure development in Nigeria.
As the head of Skill ‘G’ Nigeria Limited, he partnered with federal agencies, including the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), to modernize science, engineering, and vocational equipment across Nigerian tertiary institutions. He also co-founded the Innov8 Hub in Abuja, an incubation center designed to foster technology transfer, research, and startup development among Nigerian youth.
In politics, Prof. Ibe was a key figure in Abia State politics.
He emerged as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2023 Abia State gubernatorial election.
A dedicated philanthropist, he sponsored thousands of university students through full scholarships at Gregory University and consistently extended humanitarian support to underprivileged communities across the South-East.
Prof. Ibe held a PhD in Management and served as a visiting professor to several local and international universities. He is survived by his six children and seven grandchildren.
