Francisca Nneka Okeke
| Professor Francisca Nneka Okeke FAS | |
|---|---|
| Born | Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria[1] |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Citizenship | Nigeria |
| Alma mater | University of Nigeria |
| Occupation |
Physicists Academics Educational administrator |
| Years active | 1980 - present |
| Known for | Ionosphere |
Francisca Nneka Okeke FAS, is a Nigerian scientist and Professor of Physics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and first female head of a department in the University.[2] She hails from Idemili North in Anambra State. She was the Dean faculty of Physical Sciences University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 2008 to 2010
In 2011, she was elected as fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, the apex scientific organization in Nigeria. She was inducted into the academy alongside Abba Gumel, a Professor of Mathematical biology and fellow of the African Academy of Sciences.[3]
Scientific Research
Okeke has dedicated much of her career to studying the ionosphere and the “equatorial electrojet phenomenon.” Energized by the sun, the electrojet is a river of electric current that traverses the globe eastward around the dip equator and causes the magnetic field at the dip equator to vary almost fives time more than anywhere else on the planet. (The dip or magnetic equator differs from the equator by a few degrees, as the Earth’s magnetic north pole is different from what we generally think of as the north pole.)
Okeke’s research on how solar activity in the ionosphere affects the Earth’s magnetic field could lead to a better understanding of climate change and help pinpoint sources of dramatic phenomena like tsunamis and earthquakes.[4] She has successfully supervised 12 Ph.D. and about 28 M.Sc students.
Awards
She was named L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards Laureate for Africa in 2013[5][6]
Personal life
At age 18 Francisca married the renowned physicist P.N. Okeke.[7] The couple have six children [8]
References
- ↑ "Biography". Franciscannekaokeke.com. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
- ↑ "Nigerian Female Professor Francisca Okeke Wins $100,000 Prize". Atlanta Black Star. 2013-04-01. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
- ↑ "Fellows of the academy". www.nas.org.ng. Archived from the original on November 9, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
- ↑ "Francisca Okeke, une physicienne fascinée par le ciel" (in French). La-Croix.com. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
- ↑ "Inspiring Youth: Francisca Nneka Okeke | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". Unesco.org. 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
- ↑ "Nigeria : une scientifique remporte le prix L'OrĂŠal-Unesco". Slate Afrique. 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
- ↑ Abiyamo (17 August 2013). "Francisca Okeke, an exciting female professor of physics". Nairaland Forum. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ↑ Editor (25 February 2018). "How A Notorious Physics Problem Led Prof Okeke To Physics". Science Communication Hub Nigeria. Retrieved 6 August 2018.