In a groundbreaking milestone, Nigerian scholar Professor Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua has achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first black woman worldwide to earn a Ph.D. in Cybernetics. Cybernetics, the study of information transmission in machines and electronic systems compared to the brain and nervous system, has found a trailblazer in Ekeng-Itua.
Ekeng-Itua stands at the forefront of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) advancement across Africa, serving as an influential educator, administrator, and engineer, dedicated to empowering African youth, particularly girls.
Her doctoral journey led her to the University of Reading in the UK under the mentorship of Professor Kevin Warwick, the world’s first human cyborg.
With over two decades of experience in Engineering and STEM Education, Ekeng-Itua’s illustrious career spans continents, including impactful initiatives in the USA, Europe, and her native Nigeria, where her passion for technology was ignited.
Despite societal norms discouraging girls from pursuing scientific fields, Ekeng-Itua’s curiosity for unraveling the mysteries of technology and fostering innovation remained undeterred.
Her academic journey, from earning a bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering to a master’s in Mobile and Satellite Communications Engineering from a UK university, reflects her relentless pursuit of knowledge.
Driven by ambition and a steadfast determination to overcome obstacles, Ekeng-Itua shattered barriers to achieve her Ph.D. in Cybernetics, despite the gender biases and lack of role models prevalent in her male-dominated field.
