Odoh Benard
Date of Birth: 1 January 1975
State of Origin: Ebonyi
Gender: Male
Qualifications: FSLC SSCE PH.D 2008, MSC 2006, BS.C
Elections Contested: 1
Bio
Benard Ifeanyi Odoh (born 5 August 1975) is a Nigerian politician and professor of applied geophysics. He served as vice-chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, for 22 days from 29 October to 20 November 2024, and was Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government from 2015 to 2018. In the 2023 Ebonyi State governorship election, he was the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) nominee with Chukwu Nkata Nwani as running mate.
Odoh attended Ezza Road Primary School and obtained his SSCE from Special Science School, Igbeagu Abakaliki, in 1994. He earned a BSc in Geological Sciences (1999), MSc in Applied Geophysics (2006), and PhD in Applied Geophysics (Geoelectrical Geophysics) (2008), all from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. He joined academia in 2002, became a professor in 2014, lectured at Ebonyi State University and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and worked as a researcher with the Society of Exploration Geophysics in Oklahoma in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2011. His work supported decision-making in groundwater and mineral exploitation, reservoir characterization, and prospect mapping for World Bank Community Water Projects in the Anambra Imo River Basin.
He began his political career by contesting for Ebonyi Central Senate under APGA in 2015 and lost to Senator Obinna Ogba of the PDP. He was appointed Secretary to the State Government in May 2015, resigned in April 2018 over allegations of maladministration by Governor Dave Umahi, and later sought the APC governorship ticket for 2019 but lost in the primaries to Sonni Ogbuoji.