Professor Ifeoma Elizabeth Mbaeyi-Nwaoha was born to the family of Professor Paul Mmegha Mbaeyi and Mrs. Philomena Nnonyelum Mbaeyi (nee Afubera). She started her educational career in the University of Benin Staff School, Benin-City, Edo State of Nigeria. She completed her primary education in the College of Education Demonstration School and proceeded for her secondary school education in Owerri Girls’ Secondary School, both in Owerri, Imo State. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Microbiology), and a Master’s Degree of Science in Food Science and Technology with bias in Food Quality and Assurance. She also holds a doctoral degree in Food Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2011, all from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She is ICT-compliant.

She is gainfully employed as an academic staff of Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University, Nigeria, Enugu State. University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Her experience in the academic career started as an Assistant Lecturer (2005-2007); Lecturer II (2007-2010), Lecturer I (2010-2013), Senior lecturer 2013 – 2016), Associate Professor (from 2016 – 2019) and Professor (from 2019 – till date), all in University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Her sabbatical appointment was in Department of Biology/Microbiology/Biotechnology at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State (1st February, 2019 to 31st January, 2020). She serves as an external examiner in several tertiary institutions. She possesses over a hundred and thirty scientific publications to her credit consisting of journals, conference proceedings and chapters in book. She is involved in teaching, research and community service within and outside the University. She has supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students. Her research areas are: Food and Industrial Microbiology as Food Biotechnology/Fermentation Technology. Moreso, she renders voluntary service from 2017 till date as a West African Rhodes Scholarship selector for Oxford University, Oxford, United Kingdom. She has attended national and international conferences as well as short professional courses to her credit. She has peer-reviewed numerous journals. She belongs to academic societies namely: Nigerian Society of Microbiologists, Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology as well as Society for Applied Microbiologists. Her hobbies are reading, writing and music.