Talented Nigerian mathematician sets a record by becoming the first female to receive a PhD in mathematics from UNISA.

Oghenetega Ighedo, a brilliant Nigerian mathematician, is the first black woman to receive a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Pure Mathematics from the University of South Africa, shattering a record that had stood for 148 years.

Oghenetega Ighedo began her graduate studies at Delta State University in South-South, Nigeria, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Mathematics. She is currently an Associate Professor of Pure Mathematics.

Before enrolling at the University of South Africa to pursue her doctorate, she continued on to the University of Ibadan, South-West, Nigeria for her master’s degree in mathematics (PhD). Oghenetega Ighedo described how her mother, a mathematics instructor, inspired her to break the record at the University of South Africa.

“My mother, a retired math teacher, served as my inspiration. I observed how she approached teaching it, and as I got older, I found her approach to arithmetic interesting and wanted to observe it.

Oghenetega Ighedo further stated that she remained committed to studying pure mathematics because there are so few black mathematicians, particularly pure mathematicians who are black women.

“My choice to study pure mathematics was also influenced by the fact that there are fewer black women who are pure mathematicians than there are black men,” she continued.

Young ladies were urged by Professor Oghenetega Ighedo to persevere in the face of difficulty and to rise to the rigors of mathematics. “I was already married, had two kids, and was expecting my third 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 when I began my Doctorate. I managed to finish my PhD in three years despite being a wife and mother, she said.