Dr Akanimo Odon holds a master’s degree in Environmental Rehabilitation, a PhD in Environmental Management from Lancaster University, UK and business and enterprise certifications and fellowships from Cambridge University UK, Stanford University USA and MIT USA. He specializes in cross-border education and innovations in research and is an expert in navigating, developing and managing relationships between academia, government and industry in Africa for economic viability, research impact and student employability. He has been Africa Strategy Adviser for Aberystwyth University, University of Strathclyde; University of East Anglia; and currently he is the African Regional Adviser for the University of London, the Africa Adviser for Lancaster University and the Africa director for Zurich Elite Business School Switzerland. He recently founded Flexy-Learn, a one-stop online shop for distance learning provision for Africa. He is Principal Consultant of Envirofly Consulting UK and Founder of Lancaster International, an international outreach school/programme focused on supporting primary and secondary schools in Africa.

He was an Adviser to the National Economic Empowerment Council Tanzania under the Prime Minister’s Office, advises the African Union Scientific Technical and Research Council and sits on the Board the largest and most reputable Think-Tank organization in Africa, the Africa Technology Policy Studies Network, ATPS. In the last ten years, Odon has organized and facilitated over 50 Africa-focused international workshops and conferences; liaised and collaborated with government, industries and academia in over 30 African countries; developed over 100 strategic educational, research and commercial partnerships between UK and African organizations and mentored over 5000 young Africans.