Oghenetega Ighedo, a Nigerian-born professor and mother of three children, has set a new record as the first black woman to earn a PhD in Pure Mathematics from the University of South Africa (UNISA) in its 149-year history.

"I was inspired by my mother, a retired math teacher. I saw the way she taught and when I grew older, I found her approach to math interesting and I wanted to see if I could do it like her," said Prof Oghenetega Ighedo.

Prof Oghenetega Ighedo's interest in math was sparked by her mother's teaching style, which made the subject interesting to her. This inspired her to pursue a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Industrial Mathematics at Delta State University in Nigeria and then a Master of Science (MSc) in Pure Mathematics at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.

One might think that a BSc and MSc would be enough for Prof Oghenetega Ighedo, especially since she was married, had two children, and was expecting her third child when she began her PhD at UNISA. However, it was just the beginning. What started as a childhood dream inspired by her mother led to her becoming the first black woman to earn a PhD in Pure Mathematics, breaking a 149-year-old record at the University of South Africa.

"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," said Prof Oghenetega Ighedo.

In a post shared on LinkedIn by Women Power Africa, Professor Oghenetega Ighedo stated that her decision to study pure mathematics was also motivated by the fact that there are fewer black women who are pure mathematicians, out of a pool of very few black pure mathematicians across the world.
She encourages young women not to let adversity and challenges deter them from achieving their dreams.

“When I started my PhD, I was already married, I had two children, and was expecting my third child. Despite being a mother and a wife, I was able to complete my PhD within three years" -said Prof Oghenetega Ighedo.

Currently, Prof Oghenetega Ighedo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of South Africa (UNISA).

Her story inspires one to believe that even in the face of challenges, academic excellence can still be achieved. It may be tough, but with a never-give-up attitude, a burning desire to succeed, and a relentless effort to study, you will not only achieve success, you will also inspire others to do the same.

Source: https://scholarsgazette.com/mother-of-three-children-sets-new-record-becomes-first-black-woman-to-earn-a-phd-in-pure-mathematics-from-unisa/

Women matter

Good for her

Congratulations for making Nigeria proud

Congratulations, thanks for putting Nigeria in the news for something positive

What an achievement!

Super proud of you, ma.


You are the real slay queen. This woman is a good motivation for her kids and others to be great.

She sabi claculate n she com born three for dis Buhari regime.
Which kyn calculation be dat.nwanyi isi mgbu

Where are the people who bash and denigrate women? Unserious people.

Modified: Some NL guys are used to denigrating women by saying stuff like, "Nigerian girls are useless" and "the only thing a lady can offer is sex". Several stupid statements like that by people who haven't had any memorable achievement in their life other than dedicating their existence to insulting an entire gender.

I feel it's really daft and stupid.

OkpaAkuEriEri:
She sabi claculate n she com born three for dis Buhari regime.
Which kyn calculation be dat.nwanyi isi mgbu

Bros, she's not living in Nigerja na. Besides, Tony Elumelu has more than 4 children. Some people aren't suffering, fam.

Great News!









My siggy

WhisperedNoise:

Bros, she's not living in Nigerja na. Besides, Tony Elumelu has more than 4 children. Some people aren't suffering, fam.

na you no mpa

She was my lecturer. Department of mathematics and computer science!!

WhisperedNoise:

Bros, she's not living in Nigerja na. Besides, Tony Elumelu has more than 4 children. Some people aren't suffering, fam.

She is a lecturer in Nigeria. She only went to study in SA for her Ph.D.

SouthSouth1914:


She is a lecturer in Nigeria. She only went to study in SA for her Ph.D.

Didn't see anything that pointed to her country of residence in the article.
Thanks for the pointer boss.

Which AMAKA! we go tag this woman bayii?

So you mean all these years, No black woman has gotten PHad in Pure mathematics?

The slay queens will not see this o.

If it is to twerk in front of ring light now...



IF EXQUISITE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY IS A PRIORITY TO YOU, I AM YOUR GUY!

CHECK MY SIGNATURE!!

wado...

While I congratulate you on the amazing feat, I want to ask.
What is the real world application of your study. How can our lives be better and what problems can it solve

I found women who went into fields like mathematics, computer science very exciting.

Congrats to her, Madam Trailblazer

Thank God she is not from one of those two tribes,the thread go don full now with "Igbo Amaka","Yoruba ni baba".
Where are the Edos make dem come hype their own.

michlins:
While I congratulate you on the amazing feat, I want to ask.
What is the real world application of your study. How can our lives be better and what problems can it solve

Lol... Mathematics is everything in this world.
The phone you are using to type this is a pure and applied Mathematics.

Black Men have been doing it forever, if we really want equality, we won’t hype women for common achievements. I bet you, that PHD was written by her masters students. And after now you won’t even hear of any improvement contributed by her PHD.

damosade:

Lol... Mathematics is everything in this world.
The phone you are using to type this is a pure and applied Mathematics.

I laugh, mathematics modeling and design is purely BASE project, as long as any common person gets the blueprint of any base project, it becomes useless. Engineering is what brought the phone, mathematics is just laws and theories that have no real practical purpose, the robots and automation system’s designing the phones are controlled by Programmable codes and engineering hardware.

WhisperedNoise:
Where are the people who bash and denigrate women? Unserious people.

Read what your comment again and tell us if it made any sense.

damosade:

Lol... Mathematics is everything in this world.
The phone you are using to type this is a pure and applied Mathematics.

oh wow

falcon01:
So you mean all these years, No black woman has gotten PHad in Pure mathematics?

In that particular school...


Not beefing but it's not a great record.


It's like saying you're the first White PhD in Nassarawa University.

I'm proud of you mama , moral lesson: follow your dreams .......

Omote congratulations.

Beautiful and brainy: The real slay queen

Stargangz:
Which AMAKA! we go tag this woman bayii?

Urhobo amaka

Ahumanbeing:

I laugh, mathematics modeling and design is purely BASE project, as long as any common person gets the blueprint of any base project, it becomes useless. Engineering is what brought the phone, mathematics is just laws and theories that have no real practical purpose, the robots and automation system’s designing the phones are controlled by Programmable codes and engineering hardware.

Is Mathematics not useful towards Engineering or anything that also involves Physics or Chemistry?


Is counting not practical?

Physics and Chemistry also involve calculations.


Is it not useful towards business?

Consider Economics, Accounting and Commerce.


Is it not useful towards Agriculture?



Summary is that counting or the basic operations in Maths can't be useless towards any field or career or profession.