There is no doubt that for centuries, society confined women to the background in virtually every clime. Even when universal adult suffrage came in the 20th Century, women continued to be marginalized from the fringes of civilization. No wonder that in this modern age, a certain national leader was quoted as saying at a forum in Europe that his wife belongs only in his kitchen. It is understandable why that kind of outburst was greeted with contempt by the Western world. Although in the advanced nations, women have not fully taken their place as equal to the menfolk, but they have made appreciable strides.
In Africa generally, women have grabbed the opportunities extended to them and have begun to excel in their respective careers, representing their constituencies in government and taking up the highest leadership positions as well as leading a whole nation. Just like their counterparts in other continents, some African women have distinguished themselves in the sciences, technology and innovation sectors. News in Africa Online has looked briefly at the profiles of five Nigerian women who have made great strides in the sciences, a field dominated by men.
Gloria Elemo, Ph.D.
Prof. Gloria Elemo is the current Director-General of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (FIIRO), Oshodi, Lagos.
She is the institution’s seventh CEO and the very first woman D-G of the crucial establishment. Mrs. Elemo started her tertiary education pursuit at the University of Benin as an undergraduate of biochemistry, before bagging her Masters and Doctorate degrees, in Human Nutrition from the University of Ibadan.
Her drive for academic excellence saw her lecture briefly at the Universities of Ibadan and Lagos, before she moved to the civil service as the Assistant Chief Scientific officer at the Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in Abuja, where she rose through the ranks to become a Deputy Director, before she joined FIIRO.
Lucy Jumeyi Ogbadu, Ph.D.
Lucy Ogbadu, Ph.D , a professor of microbiology, enrolled for a bachelor of science in microbiology at the Ahmadu Bello University(ABU), Zaria, before bagging a doctorate degree in Industrial Fermentation in 1988. In recognition of her contribution to scientific advancement, Professor Ogbadu has received many awards.
She secured a UNESCO fellowship in 1980 for a training program in Tripoli-Libya in food microbiology and, again, in 1983 for a training program in Bio-technology in Jenna/Leipzig, Germany. In 2004, she participated in the United Nations University Merit Innovation program at Maastricht, Netherlands, and facilitated the hosting for the first time of such program outside Maastricht by Nigeria.
Francisca Nneka Okeke, Ph.D.
Francisca Nneka Okeke is a Professor of Physics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). She became the first indigenous female professor in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at UNN and the first woman professor of physics in Eastern Nigeria.
Her areas of research interest include; geo-magnetism, atmospheric physics and climate variability. She teaches and supervises many Masters’ and Doctorate students and has successfully supervised 12 Ph.D. and about 28 M.Sc. students. One of her protégés won the AU-TWAS Young Scientist Award in 2010.
Prof. Sylvia Uzochukwu
Sylvia Uzochukwu is a professor of Food Science and Technology at Federal University, Oye-Ekiti. She got her B.Sc. in Biology and Ph.D. Food and Science Technology at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN).
Currently lecturing at the Federal University Oye_Ekiti, Prof. Uzochukwu is dedicated to encouraging University faculty and scientists in sub-Saharan Africa in the use of the tools of modern biotechnology, so that they and their students can help tackle the problems of poverty, hunger and diseases plaguing the region, using available technology, in a safe and responsible manner.
Prof. Adenike Oyinlola Osofisan
Adenike Osofisan, a foremost academic and computer scientist possesses a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Economics as well as a Masters’ degree in Computer Science. Osofisan became the first Nigerian woman to hold a Ph.D. degree in Computer Science in 1989 and the first female to have a Ph.D. degree from the Faculty of Technology of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
She also holds a Masters’ degree in Business Administration (MBA). She has extensive academic and administrative experience in the educational system. She has lectured at the Polytechnic Ibadan, where she was the Head, Department of Computer Science and Dean, Faculty of Science.
