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. She was the First female Dean, Faculty of Physical Sciences, UNN, 2008-2010.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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 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.

Personal life

At age 18 Francisca married physicist P.N. Okeke. The couple have six children

Membership of Professional Bodies

• Fellow, Nigerian Academy of Science, FAS
• Fellow, , FJSPS
• Fellow, , FNIP.
• Member, Governing Council of ANSTI.
• Member of Jury: Regional Fellowship for women in science in sub Saharan Africa.
• ASEG
• AAWS African Association of Women Society
• OWSD
• AGU American Geophysical Union
• NIP Nigerian Institute of Physics
• SAN .
• IAU International Astronomical Union
• Past Board member, INWES, . Member, WIP, Women in Physics
● SGEPSS
● ANSTI , Governing Council Member