Tom Ikimi was born in Kumba, Southern British Cameroon (modern-day Cameroon) to John Onile Ikimi and Victoria Isiemoa Ikimi, both from Igueben, Igueben Local Government Area, Edo State. He attended St. Joseph's College, Sasse, Buea, Southern Cameroons from 1957 to 1961. He was a pioneer student of the Midwestern Polytechnic, Auchi, Midwestern Nigeria, (now Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State) for his technical education from January 1966 to December 1967 (Building and Civil Engineering) where he obtained Ordinary National Diploma. He was a pioneer member of the Students Union, a keen sportsman and established the College Athletics Club.^{[citation needed]}

His professional education in Architecture was at the Ahmadu Bello University, Architectural School, Zaria from 1968 to 1973, where he obtained the B. Arch (Hons) degree. Ikimi was a member of the student union and National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS). He moved the motion in late 1970 at the NUNS convention in Zaria to readmit the Eastern Unions back into the NUNS at the end of the civil war.

He was a pioneer member of the National Youth Service Corps programme serving in Ibadan, western Nigeria from 1973 to 74. Architect in the firm of planning partnership later IBRU Vaughan Richards & Partners, Lagos from 1974 to 1977 and was made Associate partner in 1975. Established his own firm, Tom Ikimi Design Company in May 1977 and executed a number of private and commercial projects within and outside Nigeria (1977 - 1993). He later won the international competition for the new OAU office and conference Centre project, Addis Ababa Ethiopia. He is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA) and has business interests in construction, trade and farming.

Ikimi also represented the Head of State at the 11th Summit of the Non-Aligned countries in Cartagena, Colombia, from October 18 to 20, 1998, delivering Nigeria's statement on October 18, 1998.

Additionally, Ikimi led the delegation to the 52nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from September to December 1997, delivering Nigeria's statement on September 23, 1997.

• Led Nigeria's delegation to the 52nd Session of the United Nations General assembly (UNGA) September - December 1997 and delivered Nigeria's statement to the Assembly on 23 September 1997.

• Chairman of ECOWAS council of ministers and ECOWAS committee of Nine on Liberia (C-9) from 26 July 1996.
• Chairman ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of Five on Sierra Leone.
• Led Nigeria's delegation to and chaired the 4th meeting of the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of four on Sierra Leone (C-4) in New York, 11 July 1997.
• Led the delegation of the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of Five (C-5) to New York and briefed both the Secretary-General and the Security Council under the Arria Formula, on the situation in Sierra Leone, 11 November 1997.
• Led Nigeria's delegation to and chaired the 8th meeting of the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of Five on Sierra Leone (C-5) in New York, 5–6 February 1998.
• Led Nigeria's delegation to several ECOWAS ministerial meetings and Head of State summits around the sub-Region.
• Led the ECOWAS ministerial committee of nine (C-9) to successfully resolve the Liberian crisis.
• Supervised under the United Nations, the holding of the first postwar democratic election in Liberia in August 1997 and the establishment of a democratic government headed by Mr Charles G. Taylor.

The violent overthrow of the government of president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah on 25 May 1997 posed a threat not only to the peace and security of Sierra Leone but also the security and stability of the West African Sub-region. As chairman of the committee of four and five on Sierra Leone, he led negotiations and coordinated the delicate operations leading to the successful restoration of the government of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah on 10 March 1998. He led the ECOWAS Team and was the first to enter Sierra Leone to assess the situation on the ground after the liberation of Freetown from the rebels by ECOMOG Forces 18–19 February 1998 to permit the return of president Ahmad Tejan Kabbah from exile in Conakry.^[3]