 In 1920, he received his first teaching appointment with the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria and Church of Scotland at Itigidi and two years later became a senior tutor at St. Paul's Teachers' Training College, Awka, Anambra State.While teaching at Awka, Ikoku earned his University of London degree in Philosophy in 1928, through its external programme.In 1932, Ikoku established a Co-Educational Secondary School in West Africa