Benard Odoh | |
---|---|
Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University | |
Assumed office October 29, 2024 | |
Preceded by | Charles Esimone |
Secretary to Ebonyi State Government | |
In office 2015–2018 | |
Appointed by | Dave Umahi |
Personal details | |
Born | Ondo town,Ondo State | 5 August 1975
Spouse | Dr. Juliana Nkechi Odoh |
Occupation | Politician,Academic |
Benard Ifeanyi Odoh (born 5 August 1975) is a Nigerian politician and professor of applied geophysics who served as the vice-chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka,Anambra State,for 22 days (29 October - 20 November 2024). [1] [2] [3] He was the Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government from 2015 to 2018. He also was the gubernatorial nominee of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in Ebonyi State in 2023. [4]
Odoh started his early primary school at Ezza Road Primary School and thereafter obtained his SSCE from Special Science School,Igbeagu Abakaliki,Ebonyi State,in 1994. He proceeded toobtaina B.Sc. in Geological Sciences(1999),MSc in Applied Geophysics,(2006),and a PhD (2008) in Applied Geophysics (Geoelectrical Geophysics) all from Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka. Odoh joined the academia in 2002 and was appointed a professor of Applied Geophysics in the year 2014 Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka. [5] He also lectured at Ebonyi State University,Abakaliki from March 2002 –September 2009,Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka between September 2009 to August 2014,and was a researcher with the Society of Exploration Geophysics (SEG)at Oklahoma USA,2006,2007,2008 and 2011. His research [6] in this area provided economic decision-making tools towards reducing failures:in groundwater exploitation;solid mineral exploitation;reservoir characterization and prospect mapping for World Bank Community Water Projects,Anambra Imo River Basin. He is a member of the Society of Exploration Geophysics,Oklahoma,USA, [7] American Association of Petroleum Geologists,USA, [8] European Association of Geoscientists &Engineers,London,and Nigeria Association of Petroleum Explorations,Lagos. He is also a member of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society,Abuja. [9]
Odoh began his political career when he contested for the Ebonyi Central senatorial position on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2015 Nigerian general elections but lost to Senator Obinna Ogba of the People's Democratic Party(PDP). He was appointed the Secretary to the State Government of Ebonyi State in May 2015 by the Governor of Ebonyi State,Dave Umahi. [10] He resigned from the Executive Council In April 2018 for reasons of maladministration by Governor Dave Umahi. [11] He subsequently contested for the 2019 Ebonyi Governorship election under the All Progressives Congress but lost in the primaries to Sonni Ogbuoji . [12]
In 2022,Odoh defected from the All Progressives Congress back to the All Progressives Grand Alliance and subsequently won the gubernatorial ticket to become the nominee for the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the 2023 Ebonyi State gubernatorial election. [13] [4] [14]
Odoh was awarded the Tertiary Educational Trust Fund 2012 research grant for investigating the geological and geochemical origin of Okposi-Uburu Salt Lakes;[ citation needed ] geotechnical investigation for characterizing subsurface geology, [16] Ebonyi State,Nigeria. He was also awarded the Society of Exploration Geophysics (SEG) Oklahoma USA,2011 grant for geoelectrical sounding and hydrogeochemical studies for delineating groundwater contamination of acid mine drainage at Okpara Mine site,Enugu,Southeastern Nigeria, [17] and Society of Exploration Geophysics/TGS Field Camp Project Grant in support of the project "Investigation of Toxic Waste Sites and Buried Fuel Tanks Using Spontaneous Potential Method" 2009. Other projects headed by Odoh include the Society of Exploration Geophysics Projectin support of Pb-Zn Exploration in Abakaliki using Spontaneous Potential,2008 and Society of Exploration Geophysics Project on Hydrogeophysical mapping of the Abakaliki shale aquifers,2007. [18] [19] [20]
The claim of his professorship became a contentious issue when he was first appointed Vice-Chancellor of UNIZIK. In his curriculum vitae, [21] he stated that he had been promoted to full professor in 2015 by the Federal University Gusau (FUGUS),Zamfara State. However,FUGUS authorities on 21 November 2024 issued a statement disowning the claim, [22] asserting that he had never served as a professor at the institution. [23] [24] [25] [26] [27]
The University of Nigeria,commonly referred to as UNN,is a federal university located in Nsukka,Enugu State,Eastern part of Nigeria. Founded in 1955 by Nnamdi Azikiwe who was the Governor General of Nigeria between 1960 and 1963,and first President of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966. The University of Nigeria Nsukka was formally opened on 7 October 1960. The University of Nigeria has three campuses in Enugu State–Nsukka,Enugu,and Ituku-Ozalla –and the Aba campus in Abia State.
Ebonyi State is a state in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria,bordered to the north and northeast by Benue State,Enugu State to the west,Cross River State to the east and southeast,and Abia State to the southwest. Named for the Abonyi (Aboine) River—a large part of which is in the state's south—Ebonyi State was formed from parts of Abia and Enugu state in 1996 and has its capital in Abakaliki.
Awka is the capital city of Anambra State,Nigeria. The city was declared capital on 21 August 1991,after the creation of Anambra and Enugu state,which moved the capital from Enugu to Awka. The city has an estimated population of 301,657 as of the 2006 Nigerian census. The both LGAs of Awka South and North had a estimated population of 430,200 in 2022. The city is located at 199.1 kilometres (123.7 mi),by road,directly north of Port Harcourt in the centre of the densely-populated Igbo heartland in South-East Nigeria.
The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) is a university in Nigeria that was founded as Anambra State University of Technology (ASUTECH) on 30 July 1980,by the Executive Governor of Anambra State,Chief Dr Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo. The creation of Enugu State out of Anambra State in 1991 by the then Military President General Ibrahim Gbadamasi Babangida,transformed ASUTECH into Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka,fondly called UNIZIK, is a federal university in Nigeria. It consists of two campuses in Anambra State. Its main campus is in Awka,while its other campus is in Nnewi. There are also other campuses of Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka. These include Agulu in Anaocha local government area and Ifite-Ogwuari in Ayamelum local government area in Anambra State. This makes Nnamdi Azikiwe University to operate in the three Senatorial Districts in Anambra State,Nigeria having Awka campus,in Anambra Central Senatorial District,Nnewi in Anambra South Senatorial District and Ifite-Ogwuari in Anambra North Senatorial District,respectively.
Ayamelum is a local government area (LGA) in Anambra state,in the southeastern part of Nigeria with headquarters in Anaku. The towns that make up the local government are Anaku,Umueje,Omasi,Igbakwu,Umumbo,Omor,Umuerum,and Ifite Ogwari. Ayamelum’s area is situated at the border between Enugu state and Anambra state. The communities in the area are notable for food production.
Rems Nnanyelugo Umeasiegbu,is Nigerian professor,scholar,novelist,poet and folklorist from south-eastern Nigeria.. He was also a Principal Lecturer at the Institute of Management Technology,Enugu (1978-1982),and Head of Department,Mass Communications,IMT,Nigeria (1982-1986) and professor of oral literature at Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka as well as a consultant to Koruna Books Publications.
Godwin Ogbaga is a Nigerian politician and seasoned administrator who was Minister of State for Power and Steel during the short term of Maj. Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Cyril Agodi Onwumechili was a Nigerian physicist,academic administrator,and professor of geophysics at the University of Ibadan and later University of Nigeria,Nsukka. He was the fourth Vice Chancellor of the University of Ife from January 1979 to December 1982 and the former President/Vice Chancellor of the Anambra State University of Technology,Enugu,Nigeria,from January 1983 to December 1986. He delivered the Ahiajoku lecture on 20 November 2000. He was the first Nigerian geophysicist and the second president of the Nigerian Academy of Science. He was elected as president of the Academy in 1979 to succeed Professor Victor Adenuga Oyenuga,the first emeritus professor of the University of Ibadan and the first African professor of Agricultural science.
Nnamdi Azikiwe was the first President of Nigeria.
Joy Chinwe Eyisi is a Nigerian professor,author,scholar,educationalist,and philanthropist of Igbo descent. Between 2006 and 2011,she was head of department,English Language and Literature,Faculty of Arts,Nnamdi Azikiwe University,(NAU),Awka,Anambra State. She is now deputy vice-chancellor (academic) of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN),a position she assumed on 26 October 2017. Eyisi,who was hitherto the centre director of NOUN's Study Centre in the National Assembly in Abuja,emerged winner of the election held by the University Senate on 25 October 2017. She succeeds Professor Patrick Eya as the university's first female deputy vice-chancellor (academic).
Kalu Ndukwe Kalu is a Nigerian-born American political scientist specializing in comparative institutional development,national security policy,and organizational systems. He is currently a Distinguished Research Professor of Political Science and National Security Policy at Auburn University Montgomery.;and Docent Professor at the University of Tampere,Finland
Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku is an academic and Consultant Chemical Pathologist of Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka,Nigeria. Ahaneku is a former Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka. He is from Nnarambia Ahiara Ahiazu Mbaise,Imo State,Nigeria.
Chinyere Stella Okunna is the first female professor in Mass communication in Nigeria. She has served in various capacities as an administrator and educationist in the academia and in the public/political arena. Chinyere Stella Okunna's research interest is in the area of communication for development,particularly women’s development from the perspective of women and the media. She has done considerable work on the role of the media in the effort to empower Nigerian women and improve their condition and status in the patriarchal male-dominated Nigerian society.
Charles Okechukwu Esimone is a Nigerian professor of biopharmaceutics and pharmaceutical biotechnology who served as the vice-chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka,Nigeria from 2019 to 2024. He is the first professor of pharmaceutical microbiology in South-Eastern Nigeria.
The 2023 Ebonyi State gubernatorial election will take place on 18 March 2023,to elect the Governor of Ebonyi State,concurrent with elections to the Ebonyi State House of Assembly as well as twenty-seven other gubernatorial elections and elections to all other state houses of assembly. The election—which was postponed from its original 11 March date—will be held three weeks after the presidential election and National Assembly elections. Incumbent APC Governor Dave Umahi is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term.
Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital is a federal government of Nigeria teaching hospital located in Nnewi, Anambra state. The current chief medical director is Joseph Ugboaja.
Christian Nwachukwu Okeke is a professor of International Law,Jurisprudence and Comparative Law at Golden Gate University School of Law,San Francisco California. He is the Director of Sompong Sucharitkul Center for Advanced International Legal Studies and the director of LL.M. and S.J.D. Programs in international legal studies of the institution. He is a former Emeritus Pioneer Dean of Faculty Law at Nnamdi Azikiwe University,Awka,Nigeria, and a recipient of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. Currently,he is the Pro Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University.
Obioma Nwaorgu is a Nigerian parasitologist and epidemiologist. She is an emeritus professor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University. She was educated at the University of Nigeria and University of Cambridge. Nwaorgu is remembered for her research and initiatives to eradicate the parasites associated with Guinea worm disease,malaria,river blindness,and snail fever. She was the lead researcher on twelve tropical disease research projects sponsored by the World Health Organization. Nwaorgu also was the founder and president of the NGO Global Health and Awareness Research Foundation (GHARF),which provided health education and empowerment training for women and youth. She became a fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science in 2011,and is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene of London.