A Nigerian woman, Oluwami Dosunmu-Ogunbi, has made history after becoming the first Black woman to earn a PhD in Robotics from the University of Michigan in the United States.
Dosunmu-Ogunbi achieved the milestone during the university’s College of Engineering convocation, where she reflected on the people who supported her academic journey and helped her reach the historic achievement.
Addressing graduates, the daughter of Nigerian immigrants stressed that success is rarely achieved alone.
“I do not stand here on my own two feet alone. None of us got here by our individual merit alone, whether it be teacher, friends, family, mentors, or role models, we each have one or multiple people to whom we are grateful for making this moment possible,” she said.
She also spoke about the legacy she hopes to leave, saying she wants to be remembered not only as the university’s first Black woman to earn a PhD in Robotics but also as someone who used engineering to improve lives.
“A Michigan Engineer is one who does not just provide scientific and technological leadership, but is also one who is intellectually curious, socially conscious, creates collaborative solutions to societal problems, and promotes an inclusive and innovative community of service for the common good.
“We each have a solemn duty to make positive contributions to the world. Well, my reasons for becoming an engineer were initially frivolous, but they eventually moved into something more meaningful. I want to have a positive impact on the world,” she added.
According to the University of Michigan’s Robotics Department, Dosunmu-Ogunbi’s academic journey mirrors that of many doctoral students who begin their studies without a clearly defined end goal but grow into accomplished researchers through perseverance and purpose.
The department highlighted her contributions beyond research, describing her as an active community builder in robotics.
She received the MLK Spirit Award from the College of Engineering in recognition of her mentorship and inspirational leadership, and also served as a Robotics outreach ambassador for three consecutive years, from 2021 to 2023.
Her achievements also include finishing as a runner-up in the College of Engineering’s Three-Minute Thesis competition and induction into the Bouchet Society, which honours exceptional scholarly achievement while promoting diversity in graduate education and academia.
The department further disclosed that Dosunmu-Ogunbi is interviewing for faculty positions as she prepares for the next stage of her academic career.
Vanguard News
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