Professor Bernard Odoh has been appointed the 7th Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, following his top performance in the selection interview held on Tuesday.
The university’s Governing Council, chaired by Pro-Chancellor and Council Chairman, Ambassador Greg Mbadiwe, announced Odoh’s selection, highlighting his achievement over 18 other candidates vying for the position.
Handing over the appointment letter, Amb. Mbadiwe explained that the appointment aligns with Section 4 of the First Schedule, Nnamdi Azikiwe Act CAP 139, LFN 2004, and the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2007. The appointment will be effective for a five-year term, commencing on October 29, 2024, with terms set by the Federal Government.
In his acceptance speech, Odoh expressed gratitude to the Governing Council and the selection team for their confidence in him. He noted, “I’m the first alumni of this university to hold this position. I earned my first, second, and third degrees here, so I fully understand our challenges. Judge me by my performance, not hearsay. I am here to serve, and our university will advance.”
Professor Odoh, a renowned scholar in Applied Geophysics, was born on August 5, 1975, in Ezza North, Ebonyi State. He became a professor at the Federal University, Gusau, in 2015 and previously served as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Ebonyi State. He returned to UNIZIK in 2019 after resigning from his SSG role.
Odoh is affiliated with several professional organizations, including the Society of Exploration Geophysics (USA), American Association of Petroleum Geologists, European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers, Nigeria Association of Petroleum Explorationists, and the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society.
In his tenure at UNIZIK, he has held various leadership positions, including Senate membership from 2010-2014, Special Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor on Academic Matters, and Coordinator of the UTME Exercise. With over 120 research publications, he has contributed extensively to international journals, e-books, and monographs.
Additionally, Odoh served on the board of the UNIZIK Confucius Institute, was part of the university’s Admission and Examination Monitoring Committee, and directed the Center for Water Resources Capacity Building Network for the Southeast Zone. His appointment is anticipated to bring considerable expertise and commitment to the university’s mission of excellence.
