Francisca Nneka Okeke

"Lead as a model, by example. Leading women scientists must develop a leadership style that will be highly prized."

"People confronted me with a series of questions. They would ask me:"Do you think you can make it on this seat". Okeke speaking on the challenges she faced as the first female dean."

"As a little girl, I was fascinated by the sky; why it appears white at times and blue at other times. I wondered why airplanes could fly and found my vocation when I learned physics could answer my questions.""

""When I started, there used to be only two ladies in the Physics department. But while I was the head, I was instrumental to the employment of three other female staff. While I was the Dean, my priority was employing women who are qualified in the faculty, in Mathematics, Physics, Geology, Chemistry, Statistics and Computer Science. Now we are many women in the faculty of Physical Sciences.”"

"It is important to acknowledge that science is the key to the growth and development of a nation."

"Women should be encouraged to fully participate in the development of STEM, and take key positions in science matters in government as it will ensure the implementation of strategies for improving the participation of women in the development of science."

"My childhood curiosity is the key to my remarkable achievements and my passion for science."

"I became a laureate of the prestigious L’Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science because of my significant contributions to the understanding of the daily variation of ion current in the upper atmosphere, which may further our understanding of climate change. The award placed Nigeria on the world map of honours in science. Okeke speaking on the impact of her work"

"I believe that women should be sponsored to participate in STEM workshops, conferences, seminars and exhibitions. Gender mainstreaming scientific activities must be encouraged. Okeke speaking on the marginalisation of women in STEM"

"My future dream and aspiration remain that the gender gap in STEM is abridged. Okeke speaking on her future aspirations for women in STEM"

"“I have so many postgraduate female students and many of them have gotten PhDs through my guidance, counselling and encouragement. But if I don’t let them come near me, they will be scared… If it’s possible, get women to teach women. ‘Seeing is believing’. They will eventually see that it is practical and that this is a subject that can be dabbled into and not fearing it because ‘people say…’”"

"In the past, core sciences such as physics were regarded as male domains where women were expected to be seen but not heard. People used to think that when you get into these subjects, the characteristics that are most worthily accepted for women including passivity, emotionality, intuition and receptivity would no longer be possessed by that woman."