Obiora Odugu

About Obiora Odugu

Hailing from Enugu, Nigeria, Obiora Odugu is an emerging visionary in the realm of Sustainable development particular UN Goal 9. He is currently deepening his expertise at Louisiana State University, where he's pursuing a PhD focused on robotic systems for construction — an innovative amalgamation of engineering and advanced construction techniques. Before embarking on this advanced research journey, Obiora laid a solid foundation with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka. But his academic pursuits only tell part of the story. In 2021, Obiora collaborated with the Engineering for Change team as a fellow at Kheyti, a partnership that highlighted his passion for sustainable infrastructure where he was involved in the improvement of greenhouses in India for farmers at the bottom of the pyramid. The following year, in 2022, he further expanded his horizons as a Fellow for the Autodesk Foundation. His impressive contributions during this tenure paved the way for him to join the foundation full-time before he was drawn back to academia in 2023. Obiora's drive is rooted in his profound belief in the power of design as a democratic tool. To him, good design mirrors the essence of a truly democratic government: it serves the people, crafted essentially by those it is designed for. With such dedication, it's evident that Obiora is not just pursuing a degree, but a mission — to contribute his quota in achieving GOAL 9 starting with robotics in construction and design that serves and empowers its beneficiaries.