Odogwu was born in Asaba, Delta State.[3] She started her education in the city before moving to Lagos, where she completed her secondary education.[citation needed]
In the 1950s, Violet and her sister Juliet ran for the Ladies Sports Club.[4] In 1958, she represented Nigeria at the 1958 Commonwealth Games.[5] Her progressive performance at the event earned her the 'Sports Woman of the Year' award.[3] After the games, she continued with her studies, taking courses in secretarial studies. In 1963, she went back to athletics and represented Nigeria at the first All-African Games in the 80-metre hurdle.[3]
Odogwu was a member of the Nigerian contingent at the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Kingston. At the Kingston Games, she earned a bronze medal by jumping 20 feet, 2+1⁄2 inches, in the long jump event to become the first female African medalist at the Commonwealth Games.[6]
In 1968, she captained the Nigerian women's athletics team to the 1968 Olympics. She did not win a medal but was a finalist in long jump[7] She was a bronze medalist at the Little Olympics, held a year earlier in preparation for the main event.[citation needed]
Amadiume, Ifi (2000). Daughters of the Goddess, Daughters of Imperialism: African Women Struggle for Culture, Power and Democracy. Zed Books.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Ogunbiyi, Ogungbenjo (1978). The Development of Nigeria's Participation in International Sports Competition and Its Effects on the Nation (Thesis). Ohio State University.
Oduyale, Amos (1979). TWENTY-FIVE YEARS HISTORY OF OLYMPIC MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA, 1951-1976 (Thesis). OPennsylvania Stale University.
Ikhazuagbe, Duro (19 April 2011). "Kalkaba, Odogwu Re-Elected to Lead African Athletics". This day. lagos.
"Profile of Violet Odogwu". Spear Magazine. Lagos: Daily Times. October 1967.