Grace Chijimma Ezema (née Ezekoka), born on June 30, 1942, in Port Harcourt, became Nigeria’s first female engineer when she graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1966.

She began her education at Township School, Port Harcourt, before attending Queen’s School, Enugu, where she earned a Grade I pass in the West African School Certificate in 1962.

She later studied Pure Mathematics and Applied Physics at the Federal Science School, Lagos, before gaining admission to ABU in 1963 to study Electrical Engineering—an uncommon choice for women at the time.

Upon graduating in 1966, she joined the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) as a Communications Engineer and went on to serve in various roles, including Research Engineer at Afam Power Station and Commercial Engineer in Lagos. In 1973, she obtained a management certificate from the Nigerian Institute of Management.

In 1974, she married Dr. Paul O. Ezema, a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and the couple had four children. That same year, she was transferred to NEPA’s Enugu office, where she worked as Planning and Construction Engineer.

In 1978, Ezema left NEPA to establish Guftane Engineering Nigeria Limited, delivering rural electrification projects across Nigeria.

She also ventured into agriculture with Pisces Integrated Farms Limited and served on the Governing Council of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu.

Later in life, she joined IMT as a Senior Lecturer in Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 1998 and became Head of Department from 2004 until her retirement in 2006.

A registered member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and COREN, she was also a founding member of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN).

Engineer Grace Chijimma Ezema passed away on May 8, 2024, at the age of 81, leaving behind a lasting legacy as Nigeria’s pioneering female engineer.