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  Prof. Deborah Enilo Ajakaiye is a brilliant academic who is highly revered for her contribution to the socio-economic development of Nigeria through hydrocarbon discoveries, Deborah Enilo Ajakaiye was born in 1940 in Plateau State in Northern Nigeria, and is a Nigerian geophysicist. She is the first female physics professor in Africa and her work in geophysics has played an important role in mining in Nigeria.
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Early life And Education

Ajakaiye was born in 1940 in the city of Jos, the capital of Plateau State in Nigeria. She was the fifth of sixth children. Her parents believed in equal education of the sexes and distributed household chores among both the male and female children. In 1962 she graduated from the University of Ibadan with a degree in physics. She received a master’s degree at the University of Birmingham in England, and in 1970 received her PhD in geophysics from Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria. Originally interested in mathematics, Ajakaiye says she chose to pursue geophysics because she believed it could help her country.

Career

Ajakaiye became the first female professor of physics in Africa in 1980. She has taught at Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Jos, serving as the dean of natural sciences at the latter. Her work with geo-visualization has been used to locate both mineral deposits and groundwater in Nigeria. She has also created a gravity map of Nigeria, working with several of her female students. After retirement, she devoted her time to a Nigeria-based charity, CCWA, which she had founded in 1991.

Awards

Ajakaiye has been recognized for both her scientific advancements and her aid to the nation of Nigeria. Some of these include:
  • The Nigerian geophysicist played an important role in mining in Nigeria. She made notable contributions to the socio-economic development of Nigeria through hydrocarbon discoveries. She was honoured by the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society for her work in geo-visualization, making her the first woman to receive the award.
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  • She was also the first black African to be named a fellow of the Geological Society of London.
  • Ajakaiye was among the 50 Nigerian women who were honoured with a special award by the Nigerian First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, on September 29, 2010, at the 50th independence Award for Women of Distinction.

Books And Boards

She has written many books and made lectures and presentations at several conferences. Professor Deborah Ajakaiye co-authored the book, Course Manual & Atlas of Structural Styles on Reflection Profiles from the Niger Delta, with A. W. Bally. The book has become an international reference material on seismic studies and research on the oil-rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria and similar deltas worldwide. Ajakaiye served as a member of the Advisory Council of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) from 2001 to 2004 and was elected to become AAPGs Africa Region President from 2005 to 2007. She was the first and only African to win the AAPG award in 2011. It is also interesting to know that Deborah Ajakaiye is currently leading Nigeria’s National Petroleum Commissions quest to increase the nations crude oil reserves through geophysical exploration of the inland sedimentary basins such as the Chad Basin, Gongola/Yola Basin, Benue trough, Anambra Basin, Bida Basin, Sokoto Basin and the Dahomey Basin

Other Publications

  • Course Manual and Atlas of Structural Styles on Reflection Profiles from the Niger Delta.
  • A Bouguer Gravity Map of Nigeria.
  • A Gravity Interpretation of the Liruei Younger Granite Ring Complex of Northern Nigeria.
Sources: NSPS Answers Africa Wikipedia Featured Image Source: Research Gate
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This article was first published on 28th December 2021

jeremiah

Jeremiah is a scholar and a poet. He has a keen eye for studying the world and is passionate about people. He tweets at @jeremiahaluwong.

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