Nigerian Mum Breaks 149-Year-Old Jinx, Becomes First Black Woman to Bag Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics at UNISA

A Nigerian mum has gone viral on various social media platforms after her remarkable academic prowess was brought to public attention The woman identified as Professor Oghenetega Ighedo is said to be the first black woman to receive a Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics at the University of South Africa Professor Ighedo, a graduate of Delta State University, Abraka is currently an associate professor at the University of South Africa

Professor Oghenetega Ighedo, a Nigerian academic has become popular on Nigerian social media space after it became known that she is the first black woman to obtain a Ph.D. in Pure Mathematics from the University of South Africa. A graduate of Delta State University, Abraka, Professor Oghenetega also bagged a master’s degree in Pure Mathematics from the University of Ibadan.

When she completed her Ph.D. at the University of South Africa, she became the first black woman to do so in the 149-year-history of the school. She said in a post made by Women of Power Africa:

“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 mathematics 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. 

“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.” 

Author: Okunlola Kayode. F

Okunlolacharles2020@gmail.com

Lagos, Nigeria