Rivers: PDP Deputy Governorship Candidate named

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rivers State Chapter, has finally picked a Deputy Governorship candidate. The choice of Dr. Mrs Ngozi Odu, as the Deputy Governorship candidate, has come as a shock to many, who were expecting someone within the caucus of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike to become the running mate of the party’s Governorship candidate, Sim Fubara.

Meet Mrs. Ngozi Nma Odu, PhD:

Dr. Ngozi Nma Odu is a Senior Lecturer of Food Microbiology & Public Health in the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, College of Natural & Applied Sciences. She obtained her first degree in Microbiology from Paisley College of Technology, Renfrewshire, Scotland. While in Scotland, she received the Best Academic Prize for 2 consecutive years (1977 and 1978 respectively). She also holds a Masters Degree in Food Science and Management from the prestigious University of London (Queen Elizabeth College). In 1989 she obtained a Ph.D in Microbiology at the University of Port Harcourt, that made her the first Ph.D graduate in that department. She also attended a Leadership course at the prestigious John Hopkins University Baltimore, USA.  

She has had a varied working experience. She rose through the ranks in the Rivers State Ministry of Health to the post of permanent secretary, a post she held for (6½) six and half years (1999 – 2006) making her the longest serving Permanent Secretary in that Ministry. During her tenure as Permanent Secretary, her Ministry received accolades from WHO, UNICEF and FMOH for Best practices in the area of Immunization and Baby Friendly Initiative Programmes. Dr. Odu lead the rescue team of the December, 2010 ill – fated Sosoliso air crash (there were only 2 survivors). In January 2006, she was elevated to a position of a commissioner in the Rivers State Civil Service in the Ministry of Education. As a commissioner, she made some remarkable contributions to Human Capital Development. She facilitated the award of overseas undergraduate scholarships to over 400 Rivers State Students in Russia and Malaysia. In same vein, she also facilitated the award of overseas Post – graduate scholarship to over 75 Rivers State men & women in USA, UK and Europe. She commenced the process of handover of Schools to the missions, she also initiated School beautification programme in public Schools in the State.

She had served her country in various ways. She reviewed 3 chapters of the 2004 (2^nd Edition) of the National Health Policy of Nigeria. She co-reviewed the 2004 – 2007 Health Sector Reform Programme of the FMOH. She also appraised the Public Private Partnership (PPP) implementation on the health sector in Akwa Ibom State in 2005. She produced the draft State Strategic Health Development Plan (SSHDP) for Bayelsa State in 2009 as a consultant to the FMOH. She has served as a consultant to SPDC, TOTAL, NLNG and UNDP.

She has supervised over 30 B.Sc. projects, 10 M.Sc. and 2 Ph.D Thesis. She is an international scholar, an award winner of the Keystone Symposia on Molecular and Cellular Biology “X8-2013: Tuberculosis: Understanding the Enemy” fully funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA.

Dr. Odu is a member and fellow of many Professional bodies. She is a Fellow and member, Board of Examiners of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM, Chartered). She is a Member, Nigerian Society for Microbiology (NSM), Nigerian Environmental Society (NES), Nigeria Institute of Food Science & Technology (NIFST) and a member of the American Society of Microbiology amongst others.

She is a Peer Reviewer of the Journal of Microbiology Research,Scientific & Academic Publishing; Public Health Research,Food and Public Health,andFrontiers in Science. She has attended several conferences and workshops, nationally and internationally and is a resource person for the Federal Ministry of Health.

She is also Member, Governing Board, IPS, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria (2012-2014), Member, University Management Committee, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria (2012-date), Member, INRES Committee, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria (2012-date), Member, Steering Committee on Education Partnership (EPNL/UPH), 2012-2014, Member, Board of Open/Distant Learning Centre, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM, Chartered), Member, Board of Examiners of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM, Chartered) and Member, Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM, Chartered). (Profile was sourced from: Uniport.edu.ng)