Francisca Nneka Okeke
Francisca Nneka Okeke is a Nigerian physicist. She is a Professor of Physics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and first female head of a department in the University. Biography She hails from Idemili North in Anambra State. She earned a Bachelors of Science in Physics (1980), a Masters of Science in science education (1985), a Masters of Science in Applied Earth Geophysics (1989), and a Ph.D. in Ionospheric Geophysics (1995), from the University of Nigeria. She carried out her postdoctoral work at the University of Tokyo, Japan. Okeke was the Head of Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 2003 to 2006 and was the Dean of the Faculty of Physical Sciences from 2008 to 2010. She was the first woman to hold both positions. Additionally, Okeke was the first female professor of physics in the eastern part of Nigeria. During her time as head of department, she advocated for inclusion of more women in the department, which led to the hiring of three new female faculty members and as dean of the faculty she prioritised employing women in faculty positions in the physical sciences. She advocates for the wider participation of women and