Professor (Mrs.) Ibok Oduro is an astute researcher and a Professor of Postharvest Technology at the Department of Food Science and Technology, KNUST. She had her BSc. (1985) and MSc. (1987) degrees in Chemistry at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and a PhD in Postharvest Technology at the University of Cranfield, UK. Professor Oduro has distinguished herself in developing innovative approaches for nutrient enrichment with Indigenous plant and animal species and in postharvest management of crops. Her impactful research and leadership (with over 170 high-impact publications) have contributed to efforts towards alleviating food insecurity and malnutrition in Africa.
Her 30+ years of teaching and research in the food and beverage sector are greatly influenced by her chemistry background which makes her better appreciate the reactions underpinning chemical composition and processing behaviour of diverse food matrices. She has impacted hundreds of students and industry in her career, and supervised over 25 PhDs, 70 master students and several hundreds of undergraduates from the departments of Food Science and Technology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Horticulture and Animal Science. Her educational contributions extend beyond Ghana, having co-supervised master and PhD students in Belgium, and Mali. Mrs Oduro is also an external assessor for postgraduate theses across the public universities in Ghana and is also an external examiner for academic and professional promotions, in both Ghanaian and International research Institutions and Institutions of Higher Education.
Passionate about mentoring young scientists to pursue STEM careers, she co-founded the now vibrant and internationally recognised Women in STEM (WiSTEM), Ghana, with their flagship program, STEM CAMP for girls, and the Ibok Oduro Foundation in 2018 and 2021, respectively to culminate her lifelong efforts and aspirations for the Ghanaian youth. She is also the chairperson, Ghana Board and a facilitator of the African Chapter of the International Leadership Foundation (ILF). Prof Oduro has served/ serves on multiple committees and chaired several strategic committees, contributing to Ghana’s research and development policies. These include national food safety policy, universities’ curricula development and accreditation, governing councils of Junior and Senior High Schools as well as being an imminent member of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, CSIR-Ghana (2014 to 2024). Her distinguished career demonstrates her commitment to advancing knowledge and supporting sustainable solutions that improve educational ecosystems and livelihoods.
Prof Oduro’s contributions to science education, mentorship and research leadership have been recognized on several national and international platforms. Prominent among these are, being inducted as fellow to the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (2024), Outstanding individual in Academics and Research Award by the Women in Chemistry Network and the Chemical Sciences Excellence Awards (2024), the Africa Role Model in Leadership Excellence and Youth Mentoring Award (August, 2022), Special Recognition of Outstanding Contribution to Research – World Scientist and University Rankings, World AD Scientific Index Ranking System (2021),
Special Honour/Recognition for meritorious contributions and for being an exemplary member of the Ghana Science Association (2021), Christian Women Recognition Award (Esther Award) in recognition of the meritorious labour in His Kingdom (2019), Excellence and Innovation in Sweetpotato Award: Communication for Change in recognition for the promotion of sweetpotato yoghurt, a fortified yoghurt snack to help curb vitamin A deficiency syndrome (2018), The Professor Samuel Evans Adunyah and Madam Abena Nuamah Award for Outstanding Accomplishments, Dedicated Service and Teaching Excellence in Biochemistry (2013/2014 Academic year), The African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) recognition for commitment to excellence in mentoring (2011-2012) and the Faculty of Biosciences Best Senior Member Award (2007/2008 Academic Year).
A strong advocate for problem-based learning, student-centered pedagogies, and entrepreneurial training, Prof Oduro’s research guidance extends beyond the lecture room, and she has contributed to the development and establishment of several SMEs in Ghana. These include former SMEGA winners; QUAMA Food Processing Co. Ltd (Overall Best SME in Ghana, 2016; Best Food Processing SME, 2015 and 2016) and Sweetpot yogurt (Winner of rising star category, SMEGA 2017); earning her the Small to Medium Enterprise Researchers’ Award at the 5th SME Ghana Awards (SMEGA, 2018).
A true trailblazer, it is no surprise that Prof. Ibok Oduro is the immediate-past and first female Provost of the College of Science (2016- 2019), making her the First Female academic to occupy such high managerial and leadership position at KNUST after serving in different deanship and Head of Department positions. Mrs Oduro is a teacher of the gospel of Christ Jesus and is married to Prof William Oduro.