Ikechi Agbugba, PhD, Senior Lecturer/Researcher at Rivers State University, Port Harcourt

Dr. Agbugba attended University Primary School and University of Nigeria Secondary School, Nsukka Campus, where his parents worked. As an academic, he bagged a BSc, MSc & PhD degrees in Agricultural Economics Department from the University of Nigeria. His specialized in Agricultural Marketing & Agribusiness Management. He is currently a Lecturer/Researcher in the Dept of Agric & Applied Economics/Ext at the Rivers State University of Science & Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. On completion of his doctorate degree programme, he proceeded for a 2-year Post-doctoral Research Fellowship at the University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, South Africa under the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Collaboration Centre for Research on Smallholder Development in the Dept. of Agric. Econ & Extension, Faculty of Science & Agriculture.  As a Field Research Officer, he has also gained experience with a World Bank-Assisted Project by name: Micro, Small & Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) Project, & Business Development Office at Ikeja, Lagos State, Nigeria. He is a reputable university and academic don, researcher, consultant, as well as laureate with over 25 articles, majority of which are published in international academic proceedings & journals. He reviews papers for International Food & Agribusiness & Management Association (IFAMA), Kamla-Raj Enterprises (KRE) Publishers, New Delhi, India; among others. He is also a member of the Asia-Pacific Chemical, Biological, Environmental & Engineering Society (APCBEES) with HQs in Hong Kong, China. Furthermore, he has featured as conference moderator/speakers in international conferences relating to food & agricultural sciences in Malaysia, India, South Africa & the USA. His vision is geared towards contributing to the on-going developmental initiatives in Nigeria, Africa and other developing as well as developed economies of the world by identifying & strengthening the capacities & potentials of rural communities in line with food & agribusiness activities so as to plan, & implement innovative progammes which will, to a reasonable extent halve poverty & ensuring food security.