Nigeria’s Professor Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua has proven to be more than an academic trailblazer as she’s fast becoming one of the most consequential voices in Africa’s journey toward an innovation-led industrial economy.
She holds the extraordinary distinction of being the world’s first Black woman to earn a PhD in Cybernetics, a multidisciplinary field that studies how systems—whether biological, mechanical, or digital—control and communicate.
Born in Nigeria, she pursued engineering studies in the United Kingdom before moving to the United States, where she earned her doctorate at the University of Reading in 2005.
What you should know
She is currently a Professor of Engineering at California State University, East Bay, where she teaches in the School of Engineering, exploring fields ranging from mechatronics to intelligent systems.
But her ambition has never stopped at academia. Through her work, she has remained deeply committed to solving challenges facing Africa, particularly how to transition the continent from being a consumer of global technologies to a producer standing.
That vision is what drove her to establish the African Technology and Innovation Institutes (ATII), a knowledge hub focused on connecting research, policy, and local industry in areas like Artificial Intelligence, Clean Technology, Climate Resilience, and advanced manufacturing.
ATII operates as both a think tank and a catalyst for innovation projects that empower African communities and Indigenous groups. Its mission is to ensure that African solutions are designed and delivered by African innovators—not simply imported from abroad.
Speaking on ATII’s mission, Professor Ekeng-Itua says:
“Africa’s rise demands sustainable, inclusive growth. We must connect education to employment, policy to practice, and vision to implementation, empowering our youth to thrive as architects of Africa’s renaissance.”
The African Industrial Forum: A Wake-Up Call for Founders
Professor Ekeng-Itua and ATII are now preparing for the African Industrial Forum (AIF) 2025, a high-profile virtual summit scheduled for July 10. Themed “Africa’s Future: Shaping Global Industries Through Smart Manufacturing, Automation, and Artificial Intelligence,” the event aims to accelerate Africa’s transformation into a global manufacturing powerhouse.
For Africa’s startup founders—particularly those in manufacturing, AI, and enterprise tech—this summit may prove pivotal. Speakers will include tech entrepreneurs like John Kamara, founder of AICE (AI Centre of Excellence Africa), as well as senior figures from Google, Lancaster University, and key Nigerian regulatory bodies.
Among the forum’s goals are:
- Advancing smart manufacturing through AI and automation
- Mobilising investments in local production ecosystems
- Equipping youth with skills for high-tech industrial jobs
- Bridging workforce gaps between policy, academia, and startups
It’s a roadmap that speaks directly to African founders seeking scalable markets—and to investors scouting transformative, regionally rooted ventures.
Why This Matters for Africa’s Digital Economy
Professor Ekeng-Itua’s work comes at a time when Africa is experiencing both tremendous opportunity and deep structural challenges.
Despite Nigeria recording a 67% surge in manufacturing FDI in 2023, manufacturing contributes only around 10% of Africa’s total GDP, according to the African Development Bank.
Yet with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) projected to unlock $450 billion in intra-African trade by 2035, the region stands on the cusp of a manufacturing renaissance—if it can overcome hurdles like skills shortages, infrastructure deficits, and fragmented markets.
ATII, under Rose-Margaret’s leadership, seeks to provide precisely the kind of collaborative platforms and policy frameworks that could help African innovators seize this moment.
A Role Model Beyond Technology
While her technical credentials are formidable, Professor Ekeng-Itua is also a powerful symbol for women in STEM. In a region where female representation in advanced engineering fields remains low, her career demonstrates that African women can—and should—lead technological revolutions.
Her message to young Africans is clear:
“This is more than a forum—it’s Africa’s call to action. Through unity and innovation, we will build an industrial legacy defined by African ingenuity.”
With the African Industrial Forum 2025 around the corner, all eyes are on what practical collaborations might emerge—and whether Africa’s startup ecosystem can tap into the enormous industrial opportunities ahead.
For founders, investors, and policymakers alike, Professor Rose-Margaret Ekeng-Itua stands as both an inspiration and a challenge: will Africa shape its future industries by design—or simply inherit them by default?
