LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nigerian Professor Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua has become the world’s first black woman to earn a Ph.D. in Cybernetics.
Cybernetics, a field that explores how information is processed in both machines and biological systems, has been the focus of her pioneering research.
Ekeng-Itua is a pioneer educator, administrator and engineer championing leading roles in Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) challenges in Africa.
Growing up in Cross River in Nigeria, she discovered her love for engineering and technology.
Despite being surrounded by a culture that often-discouraged girls from pursuing scientific fields, she remained unfazed in her quest for knowledge and innovation.
Her remarkable journey to success began in the UK, where she pursued a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and a master’s in Mobile and Satellite Communications Engineering.
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Driven by ambition and determination, she completed her doctorate in Cybernetics under the guidance of Professor Kevin Warwick, known as the first human cyborg.
Challenged by gender biases and navigating a male-dominated field as a woman of color, Ekeng-Itua understood that her success would motivate young girls and women, encouraging them to follow their passions in science and technology.
Speaking about challenges encountered Ekeng-Itua said, “Every challenge became fuel for my determination. I realised that my success would not only open doors for myself but would serve as an example for other women and girls who might otherwise doubt their capabilities.
“I am a Dreamer-Doer-Thinker, so I always had dreams, but my dreams were not necessarily focused on being ‘great’, but more on how I could be a positive change agent, and how to create initiatives, programs and technologies that will impact the world positively. I am human-centric in my approach to making positive change hence, the field of Cybernetics gave me that opportunity as Cybernetics is centered on purposeful design of technologies for society and humans.
“This has always been my passion, and pursuing my passion and the dream to disrupt some societal misnomers propelled me to being the first black woman to earn a doctorate degree in Cybernetics. Being the first in anything is always retrospective, for me, the initial focus is always creating positively transformative impact.”
With over 20 years of experience in Engineering and STEM Education across the USA, Europe, and Africa, she has received multiple awards for her contributions.
Throughout her career, Ekeng-Itua has been a trailblazer, advocating for diversity and inclusion in STEM fields
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Her remarkable achievement is paving the way for African youth, particularly girls, in STEM fields.
She credits her love for Mathematics and Physics from an early age as the inspiration for her career choice and her desire to create platforms that connect the world, fostering global unity and cultural appreciation.
“I wanted to pursue a career that would give me the opportunity for creativity, innovation, collaboration, and positive impact in communities”, she added.
“It was also born from my wish at the age of nine to create platforms that connected the world to foster global unity for progress and appreciative understanding of global cultures. At that young age, I noticed a huge disconnect in what the Global North thought they knew about Africa which I call the Global South.”
She emphasizes that STEM education goes beyond lucrative career paths. It fosters a mindset of curiosity, problem-solving, and fearless innovation, which are vital skills for success in a technology-driven world.