Member’s Corner takes a closer look at Dority International Alumni Association members. This month, August 2026, features Professor Chinelo Ezeocha from Class of 1997.

Chinelo Vanessa Ezeocha is a dedicated academic, researcher, and mentor in in Food Science and Technology, with extensive experience in teaching, research, innovation, and community service. 

She is a 1997 graduate of DISS and holds B.Sc., M.Sc., and PhD degrees in Food Science and Technology. A recipient of the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) Fellowship, she completed Advanced Science Training at the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) in Montpellier, France, and served as a Visiting Researcher at CORAF/WECARD in Dakar, Senegal.

She began her career at the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, where she rose to the rank of Senior Research Officer. In 2015, she joined Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (MOUAU), where she progressed through the academic ranks to become a Professor of Food Science and Technology. She is currently on sabbatical leave at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

Professor Ezeocha is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, a Certified Food Scientist (CFS), and a member of several other related professional bodies.

When did you first become interested in Food Science and Technology, and why did you choose it as a career?

As a child I had always been very selective when it comes to food, I always complained about the monotonous diet at home and when I did, my mum would ask me to go to the kitchen and fix the so called special diet myself. So I always found myself in the kitchen experimenting with recipes, some of which turned out great, while some others were nasty.

When it was time to choose what to study, I knew I wanted to do something related to food which was completely against what my parents wanted for me. I discussed my passion with my uncle who then advised me to go for Food Science and Technology since I performed well in my sciences and mathematics.

He helped me convince my parents and that was how my journey in Food Science and Technology started. Since then, I decided to work hard to prove to my parents that my career choice was the right one for me and I am happy that they later agreed with me.

What important lessons did you learn during your time at the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike?

My journey in the research world started at National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, where I learnt how to identify practical challenges facing farmers, processors and consumers and develop innovative solutions. I also learnt patience, perseverance, how to pay attention to details while working with data and how to collaborate and work within a multidisciplinary team.

I was also exposed to a lot of trainings and short courses such as the ones organized by IITA, CIRAD, Wageningen University etc. The years I spent in NRCRI were my formative years which laid the solid foundation on which I stand today.

What were the most significant challenges on your journey to becoming a professor?

The greatest challenge on my journey to becoming a Professor was time management. It was not easy balancing the demands of teaching, research and family responsibilities.

Another challenge was working in an environment where research infrastructure and funding were usually inadequate. This pushed me to become resourceful, collaborate with colleagues from better equipped institutions and seek for funding opportunities, which were very competitive, to strengthen my research and professional development.

Despite these challenges I faced, perseverance, mentorship and the passion for advancing knowledge kept me motivated.

How does your research in food processing, preservation and value addition improve the lives of ordinary households, farmers and entrepreneurs?

My research is aimed at improving food security, nutrition and livelihoods. By developing simple, affordable and sustainable processing technologies and value-added products, my research contributes to the reduction of post-harvest losses, extension of shelf life and improvement in the quality and safety of food products made from locally available crops.

These can increase the economic value of these crops and minimize waste for farmers. I always ensure that my research work always translate into real benefits for communities through improved nutrition, increased income and sustainable food systems.

How did the AWARD Fellowship and your research experiences in France and Senegal influence your professional development?

The African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) fellowship was a transformative milestone in my professional development. It equipped me with leadership, mentorship and proposal writing skills, enabling me to build stronger research collaborations and compete more effectively for research funding.

Through the advanced science training, I was exposed to state-of-the-art research facilities and cutting-edge analytical techniques. These experiences have shaped my approach to research and teaching.

They inspired me to pursue excellence, foster collaborations, mentor young scientists and conduct research that benefit my community.

What challenges have you encountered as a woman working in agricultural research and academia, and how did you overcome them?

One of the greatest challenges I encountered as a working woman was balancing the demands of teaching, research, mentorship, and administrative duties with family and personal responsibilities simultaneously, often under serious time constraints.

Most times, I had to work extra hard to establish credibility and demonstrate my capabilities above my male colleagues.

Mentorship by senior colleagues, participation in initiatives such as AWARD and my international experiences gave me the confidence to pursue ambitious goals. By remaining resilient, maintaining high professional standards and focusing on research that addressed real societal needs, I was able to build a rewarding career.

Today, I am passionate about mentoring young women scientists, encouraging them to believe in their abilities, that with determination, integrity and hard work, they can overcome barriers.

You have supervised many undergraduate and postgraduate students. What principles guide your approach to teaching and mentorship?

I have always believed that education is not only about imparting knowledge but also inspiring curiosity, critical thinking and innovation.

So I try to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students are encouraged to ask questions, explore ideas and develop confidence in their abilities.

I encourage my students to think independently and equip them with what it takes to become problem solvers, effective communicators, team players and future leaders. One of the most rewarding aspects is seeing my former students excel in the real world after graduation.

I met one of my students in Italy during one of my industrial visits and I was very happy when his supervisor was speaking highly of him. Such achievements reaffirm my belief in mentorship.

What have you learnt from training master bakers, women’s groups, young people and entrepreneurs to develop products from indigenous crops?

Training these various groups of people has taught me that scientific knowledge has its greatest value when it is translated into practical solutions that improve people’s lives and livelihoods.

This helped me to realize that innovation must be pertinent to local needs and that capacity building is as important as technology development.

I also learnt that the most successful innovations are those developed by combining scientific expertise with local experience because they usually give rise to practical, affordable and culturally acceptable solutions.

You mentioned Mrs. Zovannah Onumah’s influence on you as a student. Was there another person, teacher or experience at Dority that significantly influenced your future?

The collective influence of the teachers and values promoted at Dority laid the foundation for my future. However, the teachers that had the most significant influence were Monsieur Abosi Mukete and Mr. Moses Ineh.

Monsieur Abosi Mukete taught us how fun learning a new language could be, he taught us nice songs and we also acted drama in French. Those experiences gave me the confidence and open mind I needed during my sojourn in non-English speaking countries.

Mr. Moses Ineh taught us discipline which is one of the principles that has guided my academic and professional journey.

The JETS club competition we went for in Ogun State was what triggered my interest in science, and I remain grateful for such experiences.

What advice would you give to Dority students and younger alumni who want to build meaningful careers in the agriculture and food industry?

My advice to Dority students and younger alumni is to pursue their dreams with purpose, curiosity and perseverance.

They should first build a strong academic foundation and never stop learning since technology is constantly evolving, they should remain open to new ideas and innovations.

They should also work hard, remain resilient, seek mentors and build meaningful professional networks, collaborate and take advantage of internships, research opportunities and professional development programmes that will broaden their experience.

Most importantly, they should use their knowledge to improve their community.

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Member’s Corner takes a closer look at Dority International Alumni Association members. This month, July 2026, features Uzoma Ekwebelem from Class of 2002.

Uzoma Ekwebelem is a technology executive, entrepreneur, board member, and business leader with over two decades of experience leading business transformation, technology adoption, and growth initiatives across Africa.

She holds a first degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering and a Master’s degree in Technology and Business Management, University of Manchester, Manchester Business School, United Kingdom. 

She is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Arya Marketplace, a technology -enabled B2B wholesale marketplace connecting African manufacturers, wholesalers, and distributors to buyers across the continent. 

Prior to entrepreneurship, she built a distinguished corporate career with global technology leaders IBM and Oracle, where she held several leadership positions spanning enterprise technology, cloud computing, and public sector transformation.

She is passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation, women’s leadership, and Africa’s economic transformation. She is also committed to creating opportunities and empowering the next generation.

What inspired your interest in Electrical and Electronics Engineering?

My Dad.

He was my idol growing up. I watched him build a business and a factory from the ground up, and I simply wanted to be like him. At the same time, I was always fascinated by how things worked and enjoyed solving problems.

Engineering appealed to me because it combined analytical thinking with the ability to create practical solutions to real-world problems. Looking back, it was the perfect foundation for the technology and business career I would later build.

What were the most important lessons you learned working for IBM and Oracle?

IBM and Oracle taught me how to build businesses that can scale.

I learned the importance of structure, delegation, accountability, and ownership. As organizations grow, success becomes less about individual effort and more about building systems and teams that can consistently deliver results.

The second lesson was that relationships are often more important than transactions. Long-term success is built on trust, credibility, and the ability to work effectively with people.

The third lesson was that technology is never really about technology. It is about solving business and societal problems. The most successful solutions are those that create measurable value for the people they serve.

As Cloud Country Leader for Nigeria and Public Sector Director at Oracle, you worked on major technology initiatives. What achievement from that period stands out most to you?

What stands out most is not a single project but the opportunity to contribute to initiatives that impacted the lives of millions of Nigerians.

I had the privilege of working on projects that helped digitize government payroll and HR systems, customs and border modernization initiatives to support trade and exports, health insurance systems, and pension administration platforms.

One moment I will never forget was when a police officer walked up to me after a meeting and thanked us because, for the first time in his career, salaries were being paid on time. He explained that in the past, officers often had to bribe people or go through unnecessary hurdles just to access what they had earned.

Another memorable moment was receiving feedback from a pensioner who had struggled for years to receive pension payments and finally began receiving them through a digitized system without needing to beg anyone.

Those experiences reminded me that technology projects are never just about software or systems. Behind every project are real people whose lives can be improved when things work better.

Beyond the technology itself, I am proud of the teams I built, the people I mentored, and the leaders who grew through those experiences.

You’re the Founder and CEO of Arya Marketplace. What inspired you to build Arya Marketplace?

Arya Marketplace was inspired by both personal experience and research.

I grew up in Aba and come from a manufacturing background, so I saw firsthand the challenges manufacturers faced in finding new markets and growing their businesses.

During my Master’s degree research, I spent time speaking with merchants in the Aba leather and footwear cluster, and many of them described the same challenges—limited market access, trust issues, fragmented supply chains, and difficulty reaching buyers beyond their immediate environment.

Years later, when I started my own retail e-commerce business, I encountered many of the same problems. The experience was frustrating enough that I decided this was a problem worth solving.

Arya Marketplace was created to help manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and buyers source products cheaper, safer, and faster while unlocking access to larger markets across Africa.

What future do you see for African businesses when technology is used to connect markets?

I believe the future is incredibly exciting.

Technology has the potential to remove geographical barriers, improve trust, increase transparency, reduce transaction costs, and connect businesses to customers far beyond their immediate communities.

As more African businesses embrace digital platforms, we will see stronger regional trade, greater competitiveness, increased job creation, and more locally made products reaching national and international markets.

Technology can become one of the greatest enablers of Africa’s economic transformation.

What’s the most difficult part of building a business from the ground up?

The most difficult part is dealing with uncertainty.

In a corporate environment, many systems, resources, and structures already exist. As an entrepreneur, you are building while simultaneously learning, adapting, and solving problems you have never encountered before.

There are moments when progress feels slow and outcomes are uncertain. What keeps you going is resilience, belief in your vision, and the willingness to keep moving forward even when you do not yet have all the answers.

You received multiple awards for exceptional performance. What do those recognitions mean to you?]

I am grateful for every recognition I have received, but I view awards as a by-product rather than the objective.

To me, they represent the collective effort of teams, mentors, colleagues, customers, and partners who contributed to those achievements. They are reminders of what is possible when people work together toward a shared goal.

Ultimately, the impact we create and the opportunities we help others access are far more important than the awards themselves.

In what ways did Dority help shape your confidence and ambition?

I certainly was not a model student at Dority! (LOL)

But Dority provided an environment that emphasized learning, discipline, and excellence.

I believe many of the experiences we went through helped build resilience and prepared us for the realities of life beyond the classroom.

Dority was all about excellence. It taught me that excellence should be pursued consistently and that ambition should never be limited by circumstances.

Those values have stayed with me throughout my career and continue to influence how I approach both business and life.

What are some of your fondest memories from your time at Dority?

Without a doubt, walking home with my classmates.

The walk home was an experience in itself. We would gist, laugh, buy ice cream, share stories, and simply enjoy each other’s company.

Looking back, some of my fondest memories are the friendships, shared experiences, and sense of community that came with being part of the school.

Dority was where many lifelong friendships were formed, and those relationships remain one of the greatest gifts from that period of my life.

What advice would you give to current Dority students and younger alumni who want to build corporate careers but are unsure where to begin?

Start before you feel ready.

Focus on building skills, not just collecting qualifications. Be curious, ask questions, seek mentors, and take every opportunity to learn.

Do not be afraid to start small. Every successful career is built one step at a time. Consistency often matters more than brilliance.

Most importantly, understand that your career is a marathon, not a sprint. Invest in your character, your reputation, your relationships, and your ability to keep learning. Those assets will open more doors than any job title ever will.

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Member’s Corner takes a closer look at Dority International Alumni Association members. This month, April 2026, features Uzodimma Odimuko from Class of 2000.

Uzodimma Odimuko is a distinguished global technology leader with over two decades of experience driving digital transformation across North America, Africa, and the Middle East. Currently serving as Director and Head of Sales Partnerships at Nokia Canada, Uzo manages high-impact strategic alliances within the telecommunications sector. 

He holds an MBA from Imperial College Business School and a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Uzo sits on the board of Ontario’s oldest Christian school, leads a syndicate of angel investors focused on early-stage technology ventures, and is an active member of LeaderImpact. Based in Innisfil, Ontario, he balances his professional pursuits with a commitment to mentorship, teaching, and his family.

What’s the most surprising lesson you’ve learned while working outside Nigeria?

Be patient, life is not in a hurry. 

Critical-thinking, careful decision-making, and effective planning underpins the success of the developed countries. 

The color of your skin does not define how far you go in life. 

How has exposure to emerging technologies influenced your long-term thinking?

I operate at the intersection of technology and economic outcomes. It drives my  long-term thinking. I have made a career out of this. 

Many professionals chase growth aggressively, how do you decide which opportunities  are truly worth pursuing? 

I make my choices based on alignment with my long-term goals and expected  impact. 

How do you maintain clarity and focus when leading teams through uncertainty or rapid  change? 

I communicate business vision and objectives with clarity. 

Business objectives must be measurable. If an activity is linked to a measurable outcome, it gets prioritized; everything else is just noise. I keep everyone in the team focused on the main objective. 

Tough times make resilient teams. Tough times create the invaluable opportunities to learn and grow the team. 

You’ve worked in highly competitive global markets, what differentiates a good sales  leader from a truly exceptional one? 

An exceptional leader must be a fast learner, multi-talented, and demonstrate  thought leadership. 

He or she must have the ability to influence clients’ key decision makers – economic buyers. 

Must be trustworthy and credible. 

Must be an effective listener, be observant, and spend time observing how the  market consumes his/her products. 

Must be decisive and cut through the noise.

Must build and nurture relationship capital. 

Must be someone who leads with inspiration. 

What does success look like to you now compared to earlier in your career?

I am created and blessed with skills for a purpose, which goes beyond self and  immediate family. I consider making a significant contribution to the world, my communities, and industry as a mark of fulfillment and success. I feel happy when I give  to others. 

Was there ever a moment in your career where things didn’t go as planned? How did  you recover and bounce back? 

I secured a multi-million dollar 5-year contract, which was executed poorly. This was due to poor end-to-end solution design, poor roadmap planning, very tight margins, and lack of executive ownership at customer organization. Objectives were not clearly defined and monitored. It hurt our reputation. We should have said no to the deal. We recovered the account by going the extra mile in the execution of other high-profile projects with the customer. 

In what ways did Dority shape your mindset? 

Dority taught me the invaluable lessons of discipline and hard work. They don’t break you; they make you successful. 

Are there any specific values or habits from your Dority days that still influence how you  lead today?

Yes. They include: 

Hard work. 

Efficient time-management and elimination of waste. 

Continuous learning and improvement.  

What advice would you give to young Dority alumni seeking to break into global industries like tech or consulting? 

Define what you want in life and the aspect of technology or consulting you want to focus on. People chase too many things. Don’t make that mistake. 

Never underestimate yourself; believe in your God-given skills and abilities. Trust in God always. 

Be ambitious, humble, and imbibe a life of continuous learning. 

Learn to make decisions carefully. Always examine your life and audit previous decisions.