Mercy Okoh (nee Ukpebor) is a professor of Oral Medicine in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Medicine, University of Benin, and Consultant Oral Physician at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. She hails from Esan South East L.G.A of Edo State.
Prof. Mercy Okoh obtained a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from University of Benin in 2003, graduating as the overall best student in her set. Yobe State. She then proceeded into a postgraduate residency training in Oral Medicine at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria in June, 2006, with an outside posting in Oral Medicine unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in 2009. She qualified as a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons in April, 2012. She obtained a Master’s in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Benin in 2022.
She is a distinguished academic, an astute clinician and an administrator who served in various capacities both within and outside the university. Services within the University of Benin include:
Head of Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Medicine, Chairman, School of Dentistry Scientific Committee (2017-2019), Representative of the School of Dentistry on the School of Medicine Board of Studies (2020-2024), Coordinator of Research, School of Dentistry (2023 till date), Member, Research and Ethics Committee, College of Medical sciences (2023 till date); Member, University of Benin Research and Development Committee-URDC (2023 till date), Patron, University of Benin Female Hockey team. Outside the University, she has served as Coordinator of Dental Services, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (2023 till date), Visiting Consultant, Oral Pathology and Diagnosis Department, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (2021-2023), Examiner, Part I and Part II Examinations, Faculty of Dental Surgery, West African College of Surgeons (2019 till date), External examiner, Oral Pathology and Medicine Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (2020 till date); She is a member of the editorial team of Nigerian Dental Journal amongst others, and a reviewer for many local and international journals.
Prof Mercy Okoh is well published both locally and internationally in reputable scientific journals, and has to her credit over 80 publications and has contributed ten chapters in five Medical and Dental textbooks. She has attended over 30 local and international conferences with about 20 conference paper presentations.
She is an active member of the following professional organizations: Fellow, West African College of Surgeons with specialty in Oral Medicine. Member, Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria; Nigerian Dental Association, Nigerian Medical Association, Nigerian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Medicine, International Association for Dental Research; Member, Medical Women Association. She has bagged several awards of excellence among which are: Overall best graduating student, School of Dentistry, College of Medical Sciences, 2002 session, University of Benin. Benin City, Edo State. Best researcher, School of Dentistry, College of Medical Sciences at the first University of Benin Annual Research Day Conference. October, 2015. Best Lecturer, School of Dentistry, College of Medical Sciences, Presented by Benin University Dental Students Association (BUDSA), 2018. Distinguished service award by Clinical Students’ Hostel, University of Benin, 2002. Travel grant to attend the World Workshop on Oral Medicine VIII, Memphis USA, as an assistant reviewer and researcher, 2022. TETFUND Institutional Based Research grant for a study on the “Use of Toluidine Blue in Population-Based Screening for Early Detection of Oral Cancer’ 2024. Amongst others.
She has contributed to community development through her NGO as Founder/President, Complete Life-Girl Child Education and Youth Empowerment Foundation (an NGO registered with Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria), aimed at promoting education and youth resourcefulness (2017 till date). She mentors young people through her You-Tube channel “The Adorable Adolescent” and a motivational website- www.mercyokoh.com/blog. She has held several positions of responsibility some of which are: Director of Sports, Clinical Students’ Hostel, University of Benin (2002-2003); Internal Auditor, Benin University Dental Student Alumni Association (2015-2017); Director of welfare, Nigerian Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Medicine (2014-2018), Member, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Edo State Medical Rescue and Disaster Management Committee (2016-2018); Publicity Chairman, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN) Biennial Conference (2019); Member, World Workshop on Oral Medicine Research and Review Committee (2022-2023); Member, University of Benin and Edo State Female Hockey Team (1998-2002); Leader, Evangelism Unit, Living Faith Church, Ugbowo, Edo State (2022-2024).