By Ovie Okpare
A former Delta State commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Ronald Eyime is dead.
Eyime died on Monday at the age of 63 at an Abuja hospital.
His death is coming barely a month after a former commissioner for agriculture in the state, Mr Joe Utomi, reportedly slumped and died in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
The deceased, a frontline politician, hailed from Utagba-Ogbe, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of the state.
Eyime was commissioner for Science and Technology between 2007 and 2011 under the administration of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.
He was a renowned optometrist and a former president of Nigerian Optometric Association between 1990 and 1995.
Dr. Eyime late became President of the African Council of Optometry from 2000 to 2004 and executive member, International Optometric and Optical League (IOOL) from 1992 to 1994.
Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, has expressed sadness over the passage of the former commissioner.
The governor, while reacting to the death of the politician, described him as “thoroughbred professional” who contributed immensely to the development of Africa.
Okowa, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Monday, commiserated with the people of Ndokwa West, Utagbe-Ogbe community in particular and Nigerian Optometric Association over the development.
He said that the departed Eyime was a respected professional, politician and administrator, who excelled as first Registrar/Chief Executive, Optometrists Registration Board of Nigeria between 1992 and 2005.
“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the passing of a gentleman and thoroughbred professional, Dr Ronald Eyime, who reportedly died in the early hours of Monday.
“The news of his death came to me as a shock and I send my heartfelt condolences to the family, the people of Ndokwa West and the Nigerian Optometric Association on the passing of the renowned statesman and top-notch optometrist.
“He was a gentleman-politician and an optometrist of international acclaim, who distinguished himself in the service of his people, in the private and public sectors.
“In acknowledgement of Dr Eyime’s enormous contributions in Optometry and the medical field, he was honoured in 2003 as the International Optometrist of the Year by World Council of Optometry (WCO)”, the governor remarked.
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Okowa further praised the deceased for championing Anioma interest particularly during the 2014 National Conference in Abuja.
The statement added, “He was an active member of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta since inception and Member, Committee for the articulation of Anioma interest at the National Political Reform Conference.”
