Meet Prof. Oghenetega Ighedo, Nigeria-born Professor of Pure Mathematics and also the first black woman to obtain a Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics from the University of South Africa (UNISA), in its 149-year-long existence.
Newsonline presents that the African and Nigerian Amazon started her academic journey at Delta State, as an undergraduate.
Prof. Oghenetega Ighedo had her Bachelor of science (BSc) in Industrial mathematics, at Delta State University, from 2000-2003.
She then proceeded to Ibadan, Oyo State, where he had her Master of Science (MSc) in Mathematics, at the prestigious premier University of Ibadan, from 2006-2008.
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It is worthy to mention that before her journey to South Africa, Professor Oghenetega worked as a graduate assistant at Delta State University Abraka from August 2005- October 2008, for three years and three months.
In October 2008, she became an assistant lecturer till March 2011, for two years and 6 months.
Prof then rode to South Africa in 2011 where she became a lecturer and researcher at the University of South Africa joining from July 2011 to April 2019, for seven years and 10 months.
Prof. Oghenetega Ighedo, Nigeria and Africa amazon became the first black woman to have a Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics at the prestigious UNISA after studying from April 2015 to April 2019, four years and one month.
With seven years and five months stay at the University of South Africa, Oghenetega Ighedo has been an Associate Professor from April 2019 to the present, about three years and five months.
Speaking on her motivating factor, she said, “I was inspired by my mother – a retired maths teacher. I saw the way she was going about teaching it and when I grew older, I thought the way she did maths was interesting and I wanted to see if I could do it like her.
“My decision to study pure maths was also motivated by the fact that not only are there few black pure mathematicians but there are fewer black women who are pure mathematicians.
Professor Oghenetega Ighedo added, “I encourage young women not to let adversity and challenges deter them. When I started my Ph.D. I was already married, I had two children and was expecting my 3rd child. In spite of being a mother and a wife, I was able to complete my Ph.D. within three years.”
