Today, I want to share with you the amazing story of Nkechinyere Chidi-Ogbolu, a 22-year-old Nigerian lady who has just earned her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of California in the US.
Nkechinyere is one of the youngest PhD holders in the country and a shining example of academic excellence. She started her academic journey at 14, when she left her home country and moved to Washington, D.C., where she enrolled in Howard University for her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. She graduated with honors at the age of 18 and received scholarships to pursue her Master’s and PhD degrees in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering.
Nkechinyere said that her passion for science and engineering was inspired by her father, who is also an engineer. She also credited her mother for being supportive and resourceful throughout her education. She said that she did not consider herself a genius, but rather a hardworking and determined person who sought out the right information and opportunities.
“I have always possessed a certain level of academic giftedness. However, I wouldn’t describe myself as a genius. I simply sought out the right information and made use of it. My parents played a vital role in this. My mother would actively seek out information and take action,” she was quoted to have said.
Nkechinyere’s remarkable achievement has inspired many people around the world, especially young women who aspire to pursue careers in science and engineering. She hopes to use her knowledge and s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s to solve some of the pressing health challenges facing humanity, such as cancer, diabetes, and infectious diseases.
She also has a message for other young people who want to follow their dreams: “Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. Believe in yourself and work hard. Seek out mentors and role models who can guide you and motivate you. And most importantly, enjoy what you do.”
Nkechinyere is a true role model for all of us who want to make a positive impact in the world through our talents and passions. I congratulate her on her phenomenal achievement and wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
Have you heard of Dr. Wendy Okolo, she made history as the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is also a research engineer at NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, where she works on cutting-edge technologies for aircraft safety and efficiency.
Okolo was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 and raised in Nigeria, where she attended Queen’s College, an all-girls school in Lagos. She loved math and science from an early age, and moved to the United States at 17 to study aerospace engineering at the University of Texas at Arlington.
She excelled in her undergraduate studies, becoming the president of the Society of Women Engineers at the university, and interning for Lockheed Martin, working on NASA’s Orion spacecraft. She also won several scholarships and awards for her academic achievements.