First Black woman earns pure mathematics PhD at UNISA

Professor Oghenetega Ighedo has made history as the first Black woman to achieve a doctorate in Pure Mathematics from the University of South Africa (UNISA). The Nigerian-born academic accomplished this significant feat in just three years, all while managing the demands of motherhood and her position as an Associate Professor in UNISA’s Department of Mathematical Sciences.

Ighedo’s academic path began with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Mathematics from Delta State University, followed by a Master of Science in Pure Mathematics from the University of Ibadan. Her inspiration stems from her mother, a retired mathematics teacher, whose early influence ignited her passion for the subject. "I was inspired by my mother. I saw the way she taught mathematics, and as I grew older, I found it interesting and wanted to do it like her," she shared.

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I was inspired by my mother. I saw the way she taught mathematics, and as I grew older, I found it interesting and wanted to do it like her.

Beyond personal passion, Ighedo cited the underrepresentation of Black individuals in mathematics as a key motivator for pursuing advanced studies. "My decision to study pure mathematics was motivated by the fact that not only are there few Black pure mathematicians, but there are even fewer Black women in the field," she stated. Her journey is particularly remarkable as she began her PhD studies while married, raising two children, and expecting a third, yet still completed the program within the stipulated three-year timeframe.

Ighedo now encourages young women to pursue their academic and professional goals with focus, determination, and resilience. Her breakthrough is celebrated as a crucial stride toward enhanced representation for Black women in mathematics and other STEM disciplines, underscoring the increasing impact of African scholars in international research and higher education.

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My decision to study pure mathematics was motivated by the fact that not only are there few Black pure mathematicians, but there are even fewer Black women in the field.