By Emma Una, 14 May 2020
In every political contest, there are frontrunners, underdogs, grandstanders and wayfarers. Based on my personal view, we shall, beginning with this piece, undertake an objective overview of the profile of those jostling to step into the large shoes left behind by the amazon, Senator Rose Oko.
DR STEPHEN ODEY
Dr Stephen A. Odey is a fully refined, well read personality both in poise and professional acumen. He is a goal-getter that believes in the “now” (timeliness and manner of getting things done rightly). He abhors mediocrity and laissez-faire attitude to anything he sets his mind to do.
He is humble and trustworthy, yet firm in his administrative approach.
He is a philanthropist and a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who believes in the emancipation of his people and abhors injustice and inequality. He is a unifying factor in his community and everywhere he goes.
He is a Cross Riverian and native of Uchu Village in Yache, Yala Local Government Area. He started his educational career at St Christopher's Primary School, Uchu, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State and from there progressed to Yache Community Secondary School Alifokpa, Yala and St. Thomas’s College Ogoja respectively for his Junior Secondary School Certificate (JSSC) and Teacher’s Grade II Certificate (TCII) respectively.
Still burning with the desire to be a professional teacher, he enrolled in the National Teacher’s Institute, Kaduna where he obtained his Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE). He proceeded to the prestigious University of Calabar, Calabar, where he obtained a Bachelor of Education B.Ed (Hons) Degree.
With great passion for higher education, he was admitted again into the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar for a Master’s programme in Industrial Sociology, where he bagged his Masters of Science (M.Sc.) Degree in Industrial Sociology and went further to attain a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in Industrial Sociology.
He ventured into the legal field of studies in the prestigious Faculty of Law, University of Calabar, Nigeria and excelled remarkably by graduating with a 2nd Class (Upper Division) Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Hons.) Degree and proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Bwari where he acquired B.L and was
called to the Nigerian Bar as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court, Nigeria after successfully passing the Bar Part II Examination.
He is an erudite Scholar with sterling record of performance in the field of Sociology, Law and Education with authorship of over 45 articles in learned Local and International Journals across the globe, including America, Sweden, Germany and Asia.
He is currently an Editor for the International Journal of Industrial Relations as well as, African Journal of Arbitration and Conflict Resolution, both annual Journals of the Centre for African American Research Studies (CAARS).
He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Science, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria. His research areas of interest are Dispute/Conflict Resolution, Public Relations, Investigation, Industrial Negotiations and Environmental Law.
He loves reading, writing, researching, traveling, making friends and jogging as his hobbies.
Dr Odey is happily married with children.
Owing to the versatile nature of this dynamic personality, we shall bring you more on his profile in subsequent publications.
