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Benard Ifeanyi Odoh

Early life
Professor Benard Ifeanyi Odoh was born on 5th August, 1975. He is from Ezza North Local Government Area, Ebonyi State. He attended Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Honours degree (Second Class Upper Division) in Geological Sciences in 1999 and subsequently earned a Master of Science degree in 2005 and Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Geophysics in 2008 at the same Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

Career
In 2002, Benard I. Odoh joined Ebonyi State University Abakaliki as a Graduate Assistant, from where he left for Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, in 2009. He later became a Professor of Geophysics, Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka on Academic Matters/Coordinator post UTME Exercise NAU; Coordinator of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) Earthquake Seismic Monitoring Centre; Director of National Water Resources Capacity Building Network of NAU, Awka; member of NAU Admission and Examination monitoring committee and a member of NAU Senate from 2010 to 2015. He is presently the Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government.

Achievements
In November 2012, he trained and led NAU team to emerge the 2012 Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists Basin Simulation Competition 3rd Place Winner. His philosophy is that the best legacy to live behind is to pass on all he has ever learnt to those under his leadership. He believes that leaders learn continuously! He has equally made landmark contributions to the education of the public. In March 2013, he led a team of four students of NAU whom he trained and mentored, to achieve 1st Prize Position in 2013 American Association of Petroleum Geologist Imperial Barrel Award (AAPG IBA) in the African Region Competition that involved 21 universities in Africa. This feat earned them a place in AAPG IBA finals in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, 17th – 19th May, 2013 where they came 5th in position among 11 world best universities. In October, 2013, he was one of the 10 nominated delegates from Africa at the 3rd meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum and the launching ceremony of the China-Africa Think Tanks 10+10 Partnership Plan in Beijing China. He also participated in Higher Education Administration seminar for Anglophone African Countries in three major provinces of China all between 16th October and 7th November, 2013 sponsored by Chinese Ministry of Education. In terms of academic productivity, he has as at today fifty-six (56) scientific publications in International Journals to his credit. His areas of expertise encompass hydro geophysics, seismic interpretation, rock physics and advancement of higher education. The modest work he has done in these areas have been rewarded with many prizes and honours notable among which are Rotary International Vocational Service Award, Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria’s Excellence Award, Ezekuna Excellence Award, Austin Auvuru and Veritas DGC Ashbert Grants of Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists, USA Society of Exploration Geophysics Project of Merit Awards: 2007, 2008 and 2009. He has also had the honour of co-authoring a monograph with Professor Boniface C.E. Egboka titled: Water: Ecological Disasters and Sustainable Development, published by Lambert Academic Publishing, Germany and which is on sale online. Benard I. Odoh has travelled widely and rendered consultancy services to many organizations including the following: Water for Life in Africa, a New York based International NGO, 2008: Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Abuja, 2009: Petroleum Trust and Development Fund (PTDF), Abuja, 2008; Ministry of Environment, Abuja, 2009: National Water Resources Institute Kaduna, 2009: Ebonyi State Poverty Reduction Agency, Ebonyi State Ministry of Education (2003-2005); Anambra/Imo River Basin Development Authority of Nigeria (2002-2004) etc. He has used his training to address numerous hydro geophysical challenges in the Southeast Nigeria. He has equally been deeply involved in youth development and has actively participated in numerous youth capacity development programmes and empowerment activities, organized community based approach in helping young people find their voice. He is still the Deputy Executive Director of Youth Alive Development Initiative YADI. YADI is set amongst other things, to train, build and develop the potentials of visionary and understanding leaders of future generations in Nigeria and Africa. YADI has successful stories of its impact of activities on youths. His several academic sojourns have taken him to the following places among others: Beijing, Zhejiang and Shanghai provinces in China, Frankfurt Germany, Netherlands, Toronto, Scarborough, London Western Ontario, and Brampton, Canada: Michigan, Houston, San-Antonio, Denver Colorado, Las Vegas Nevada, New York, New Orleans, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Ohio and Atlanta in USA: London England, Sweden and Switzerland. He is an active member of American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), Society of Exploration Geophysics (SEG), European Association of Geoscientist and Engineers (EAGE), Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) and Nigerian Mining and Geoscience Society (NMGS).

Family
Benard Ifeanyi Odoh is happily married to Juliana Nkechi Odoh and they are blessed with two children: Collins and Adanna Odoh.