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OKWU Queen Udodirim

 Okwu, Queen Udodirim was born to parents who are core Academics and she recalls how while growing up, their home was filled with books and as such she naturally took to reading. After her high School Education, Okwu was admitted into the Department of Agronomy, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike where she obtained her BSc degree in 2011. Following her excellent performance as an Undergraduate student, she was retained by the University as a Graduate Assistant.

In 2017, Okwu obtained her MSc Degree also at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike where she majored in Plant Breeding and Genetics. Her work was on the Characterisation and Evaluation of Xanthosoma sagittifolium accessions in different environments. After obtaining her MSc Degree, she was promoted to the rank of Assistant Lecturer in 2017 where she taught biotechnology and Plant breeding courses at undergraduate level.

Okwu came to know about the PhD programme at the West African Centre for Crop Improvement, WACCI, University of Ghana, Legon in the second year of her MSc study and she knew instantly that this was what she needed to jump-start her young career and make the transition from teaching to Research Oriented profession. She is currently a PhD student at WACCI, under the sponsorship of German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Her research interest lies in improving nutritional traits in roots and tubers using molecular breeding tools.