Francisca Nneka Okeke

Francisca MAX Okeke is a Nigerian physicist. She is and Professor of Physics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and first female head of a department in the University.[2] She was the First female Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, UNN, 2008-2010.[3]

Professor

Francisca Nneka Okeke

FAS
Born
Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria[1]
Alma materUniversity of Nigeria
Occupation
Physicists
Academics
Educational administrator
Years active1980 - present

She has been advocating for inclusion of more women in the department, which has led to the hiring of three new female faculty members. In addition, she encourages girls and women to participate in science and technology. Fransicsa Nneka Okeke was the Dean faculty of Physical Sciences University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 2008 to 2010.[4]

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.[5]

She hails from Idemili North in Anambra State.

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.[6] 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[7][8] for her significant contributions to the understanding of daily variations of the ion currents in the upper atmosphere which may further our understanding of climate change.

Okeke was cited as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2013.[9]

Personal life

At age 18 Francisca married physicist P.N. Okeke.[10] The couple have six children [11]

Membership of Professional Bodies

• Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Science, FAS

• Fellow, Japanese Society for Promotion of Science, FJSPS

• Fellow, Nigeria Institute of Physics, FNIP.

• Member, Governing Council of ANSTI.

• Member of Jury: Regional Fellowship for women in science in sub Saharan Africa.

• ASEG Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists

• AAWS African Association of Women Society

• OWSD Organization of Women in Science for the Developing world

• AGU American Geophysical Union

• NIP Nigerian Institute of Physics

• SAN Science Association of Nigeria.

• IAU International Astronomical Union

• Past Board member, INWES, International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists. Member, WIP, Women in Physics

● SGEPSS Society of Geomagnetism and Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences

● ANSTI African Network for Science and Technological Institution, Governing Council Member[12]

References
  1. "Biography". Franciscannekaokeke.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  2. "Nigerian Female Professor Francisca Okeke Wins $100,000 Prize". Atlanta Black Star. 2013-04-01. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
  3. "Inspiring Youth: Francisca Nneka Okeke | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2019-05-08.
  4. "Inspiring Youth: Francisca Nneka Okeke | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
  5. "Fellows of the academy". www.nas.org.ng. Archived from the original on November 9, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  6. "Francisca Okeke, une physicienne fascinée par le ciel" (in French). La-Croix.com. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
  7. "Inspiring Youth: Francisca Nneka Okeke | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". Unesco.org. 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
  8. "Nigeria : une scientifique remporte le prix L'OrĂŠal-Unesco". Slate Afrique. 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2013-05-09.
  9. Ghana, News (2013-12-12). "Top 100 Influential People In Africa: See the Nigerian list". News Ghana. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  10. "Inspiring Youth: Francisca Nneka Okeke | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization". www.unesco.org. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
  11. Editor (25 February 2018). "How A Notorious Physics Problem Led Prof Okeke To Physics". Science Communication Hub Nigeria. Retrieved 6 August 2018.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  12. "Prof. Mrs. Okeke Francisca | Membership of professional bodies | University Of Nigeria Nsukka". www.unn.edu.ng. Retrieved 2019-05-09.
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