“In spite of being a mother and a wife, I was able, despite being heavily pregnant at some point, to complete my PhD in pure mathematics within three years. And, here is the role my mother played.”
Professor Oghenetega Ighedo, a Nigerian born Mathematician has broken the mathematics record of the 148 year-old University of South Africa.
Platforms Africa gathered that Ighedo became the first black woman to obtain a PhD in Pure Mathematics at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in its 148-year-long existence.
She has, before this, bagged a Master of Science (MSc) in Pure Mathematics from the University of Ibadan and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Industrial Mathematics from Delta State University, Nigeria.
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Ighedo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of South Africa (UNISA).
She spoke about how her mother inspired her to pursue her dream.
“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 PhD 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 PhD within three years,” said Prof Ighedo.
Nigerians have already taken to the Facebook to celebrate the record breaker.
One of her fans, Nathaniel Iyanda, who said the record created by the female Professor is inspiring for many, called on Nigerians to celebrate her.
