Meet Prof Rita Orji, PhD First Black Woman To Be Recognized As Canada Research Chair In Persuasive Technology

Rita Orji, PhD is a Nigerian-Canadian Computer Science Professor, a Canada Research Chair in Persuasive Technology, and the Director of the Persuasive Computing Lab at Dalhousie University in Canada.

She has won over 50 awards and recognitions from both national and international organizations. She has addressed a United Nations panel about the status of women and at the Parliament of Canada.

Rita background was not the sliver spoon type, She grew up in Enugu State Nigeria where she was born and raised by parents (Mr. and Mrs. Maria and Okonkwo Orji) who never attended school, in a remote town called Owelli with no electricity and pipe-borne water.

Rita is one of nine siblings and her parents supported the family through their peasant farming. Rita did not have access to a computer while growing up, she was admitted to study Computer Science at Nnamdi Azikiwe University without having used a computer for the first time. Nevertheless, she graduated on top of her class with a First Class Honours.

“Just set that goal….,
Make it plain……
And let it run…..”

Rita graduated as a top student from all her studies with First Class Honours grades, a rare feat that attracted numerous awards and scholarships.

Orji earned her Ph.D. at University of Saskatchewan in 2014. She was the first woman from her town of 50,000 people to earn a Ph.D. Most of her Awards include:

• 2021 Top 100 Canada’s Most Powerful Women

• 2021 Top 100 Leading Nigeria Women

• 2021 Outstanding Young Computer Science Researcher Awards

• 2020 Canada Research Chair in Persuasive Technology.

• 2020 Inducted into the Royal Society of Canada College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.

• 2019 Dalhousie University President’s Research Excellence Award.

• 2019 International Society for Research on Internet Interventions Rising Star Award.

Thank You Prof Rita Orji, PhD for making Africans Proud….

Source: LinkedIn

Email: elora.akpotosevbe@yahoo.com