Tele Ikuru

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Tele Ikuru

|image = Engr- Tele Ikuru, Deputy Governor of Rivers State 2014-04-06 14-04.jpg

|office = 4th & 5th Deputy Governor of Rivers State

|governor1 = Chibuike Amaechi

|term_start1 = 26 October 2007

|term_end1 =

29 May 2015

|predecessor1 = Tele Ikuru

|successor1 =

Ipalibo Banigo

|governor2 = Celestine Omehia

|term_start2 = 29 May 2007

|term_end2 = 25 October 2007

|predecessor2 = Gabriel Toby

|successor2 = Tele Ikuru

|birth_name = Telenyem Renner Ikuru

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1966|2|24}}

|birth_place = Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = People's Democratic Party

|spouse = Dr Mina Ikuru

|alma_mater = Rivers State University of Science and Technology

}}

Telenyem Renner Ikuru (born 24 February 1966), commonly known as Tele Ikuru, is a Nigerian engineer and politician. He was first elected Deputy Governor of Rivers State in 2007 on a PDP ticket with Gov. Celestine Omehia.{{cite book |title=A Right to Be Wrong |first1=Celestine |last1=Omehia |publisher=AuthorHouse |year=2011 |isbn=978-1456785680|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hQzXzZfHV7QC |page=81 |access-date=27 March 2015}} After the court annulled Omehia's election that year, he was picked to serve under Chibuike Amaechi and was reelected to the office in 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.coren.gov.ng/old_coren/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=86|title=Engr. Tele Renner Ikuru, FNSE|publisher=COREN|access-date=27 March 2015}}

Ikuru was among state officials who joined the All Progressive Congress with Gov. Amaechi in 2013. He later defected back to the People's Democratic Party on 22 March 2015.{{cite news|url=http://www.punchng.com/news/amaechis-deputy-ikuru-defects-to-pdp/|title=Amaechi's deputy, Ikuru, defects to PDP|newspaper=The Punch|date=23 March 2015|access-date=27 March 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323063348/http://www.punchng.com/news/amaechis-deputy-ikuru-defects-to-pdp/|archive-date=23 March 2015}}

Early life and education

Tele Ikuru was born and raised in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. His family roots are originally from Ikuru town Andoni. In 1992, he earned a Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech.) degree in mechanical engineering from the Rivers State University of Science and Technology.

Career

Tele Ikuru was a Principal Technical Assistant at the Shiroro Hydroelectric Power Station during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. After completing his service (which lasted a year), Ikuru worked for various investment and construction companies, then taught at Kenneth Commercial School and Allenco Comprehensive Secondary School. He also worked at the Logos Community Bank in Port Harcourt. In 1996, he got a job with the Shell Petroleum Development Company, where he worked as an Oil/Chemical Spill Clean-Up Supervisor until 1999.

Tele Ikuru served as Commissioner of Agriculture and Natural Resources from 1999 to 2003. He was moved to Housing and Urban Development as pioneer Commissioner from 2004–06.{{cite news|url=http://nm.onlinenigeria.com/templates/?a=737&z=12|title=Villagers chase away Tele Ikuru's men|newspaper=The Port Harcourt Telegraph|via=Onlinenigeria.com|date=4 February 2005 |access-date=25 March 2015}} In 2007, Ikuru ran for, and was elected Deputy Governor alongside gubernatorial candidate Celestine Omehia. After their election was annulled that year, he was adopted and served two terms in office under Governor Chibuike Amaechi.