Two Nigerians Becomes First Black Women to Obtain Ph.D in Artificial intelligence, Cybernetics

By Towncriernews 

Nigerian Scholar, Adaobi Chukwu has made history As First Black Woman to obtain Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence

Also in a groundbreaking milestone, Nigerian scholar Professor Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua has achieved a historic feat by becoming the first black woman globally to attain a Ph.D. in Cybernetics.

Cybernetics is the study of information transmission in machines and electronic systems in comparison to biological systems like the brain and nervous system, lies at the core of her remarkable accomplishment.

Ekeng-Itua stands at the forefront of advancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) initiatives across Africa. Through her roles as an educator, administrator, and engineer, she tirelessly works to create opportunities for African youth, particularly girls, within the STEM landscape.

Her journey to this significant achievement led her to the University of Reading in the UK, where she pursued her doctoral studies under the guidance of Professor Kevin Warwick, a pioneering figure renowned as the world’s first human cyborg.

With over two decades of experience in engineering and STEM education, Ekeng-Itua’s expertise spans continents, including North America, Europe, and her native Africa. Her commitment to fostering STEM innovation stems from her early exposure to technology in Nigeria.

Despite societal norms that often discourage girls from pursuing scientific fields, Ekeng-Itua remained steadfast in her quest to unravel the complexities of technology and to push the boundaries of innovation. 

Driven by her insatiable thirst for knowledge, Ekeng-Itua, obtained her bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and a master’s in Mobile and Satellite Communications Engineering from a UK institution.

Fuelled by ambition and a relentless determination to overcome obstacles, Ekeng-Itua etched her name in history by completing her Ph.D. in Cybernetics.

Despite facing challenges as a woman of color in a male-dominated domain characterized by gender biases and a dearth of visible role models, she refused to be constrained by these barriers