Dr Chisara Peace Ngozi Ogbogbo, first female professor in Mathematical Sciences at UG

Following her promotion to the rank of Associate Professor in Applied Mathematics at the University of Ghana, Dr. Chisara Peace Ngozi Ogbogbo has become the first woman to earn a professorship in the Mathematical Sciences since the university was founded in 1948.

Her promotion was approved by the University Council on May 29, 2025, after her “exceptional scholarly contributions, leadership, and commitment to academic excellence in the field of mathematics” was recognized, as said in a report on Ghana’s myjoyonline.com.

Dr. Ogbogbo is currently Head of the Department of Mathematics at the University of Ghana, where she has played a major role in innovation, mentorship and academic reform.

She particularly helped organize the Graduate School of Mathematical Modelling (GSMM2023) conference, which had in attendance leading mathematicians and students from across Africa.

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Abia State University in Nigeria, Dr. Ogbogbo also received Master’s degrees in both Economics and Mathematics from the University of Ibadan before completing a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the same university.

She has done research in Applied Mathematics, Financial Mathematics, Stochastic Analysis, and Mathematical Modelling, according to the report.

The history-maker is also behind several peer-reviewed publications, including her 2023 work, “Solution to Nonlinear Wave and Evolution Equations by Direct Algebraic Method.”

The researcher’s work has been referenced in a significant number of academic publications, with over 89 citations.

Besides supervising many graduate theses, Dr. Ogbogbo has also been a mentor to many who would like to become mathematicians, including young women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Indeed, her recent historic promotion is not only about what she has achieved personally but also shows the University of Ghana’s commitment to advancing gender inclusion in STEM.

A recent report by Times Higher Education (THE) and the United Nations Scientific, Cultural and Educational Organization found that 47% of African universities’ science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates, undergraduates and postgraduate levels are women. This means that Africa has the highest proportion of female STEM graduates.

Dr. Ogbogbo’s achievement comes after Gloria Agyeiwaa Antwi Botchway became the first female PhD Mathematics graduate from the University of Ghana last year. She described this amazing feat as “a story of triumph over adversity, of hope in the face of despair, and of the unbreakable human spirit.”

Before this, Angela Tabiri, a young mathematician from Ghana, was named the World’s Most Interesting Mathematician by The Big Internet Math-Off.