TUT Three Dynamic Women Conquered the ICT Doctoral Field. In a historic milestone for the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), three extraordinary women—Dr Juliana Adeola Adisa, Dr Dorcas Oladayo Esan, and Dr Moanda Diana Pholo—earned their Doctor of Computing (Computer Systems Engineering) degrees from the Tshwane University of Technology on April 7, 2025. Their achievement not only signifies academic excellence but also marks a significant step in breaking gender barriers within the ICT sector.
For years, the technology industry has been male-dominated, with women facing challenges in advancing their careers and receiving equal recognition. However, the success of these three women serves as a powerful testament to the changing landscape, proving that women can lead, innovate, and shape the future of technology.
This article explores their pioneering research, highlighting how each woman has made a remarkable contribution to the field of ICT, tackling real-world problems in finance, art, and healthcare using cutting-edge technologies such as deep learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning.
Women in ICT Leadership
The ICT sector has long been seen as an industry dominated by men, with fewer women pursuing careers or advanced degrees in fields such as computer systems engineering, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
According to global statistics, only about 20-30% of ICT professionals are women, highlighting a significant gender gap. However, the academic success of Drs Adisa, Esan, and Pholo challenges these long-standing biases and inspires future generations of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
This achievement is not just personal success for these three women—it is a victory for diversity and inclusivity in technology. Their accomplishments encourage institutions, policymakers, and organizations to invest more in female representation within ICT, ensuring that women have equal opportunities to lead and innovate in this rapidly evolving industry.
Meet the Pioneering Women and Their Groundbreaking Research
Each of these women has made significant contributions in their respective fields, applying advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning models to solve pressing global challenges.
| Doctoral Graduate | Research Focus | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Juliana Adeola Adisa | Financial Crises Prediction using Deep Learning | New AI-based models for bankruptcy prediction and credit scoring |
| Dr Dorcas Oladayo Esan | Enhancing & regenerating 3D African art using AI | Preserving African cultural heritage in digital form |
| Dr Moanda Diana Pholo | Medical diagnostics using Machine Learning & NLP | AI-driven disease classification for improved healthcare |
Each of their research projects is groundbreaking in its own right, demonstrating the transformative power of AI and machine learning.
Let’s take a closer look at their innovative contributions.
Predicting Financial Crises: Dr Juliana Adeola Adisa’s Deep Learning Model
Dr Juliana Adeola Adisa focused her doctoral research on financial distress prediction, addressing key challenges in bankruptcy detection and credit scoring. With financial crises being a major concern for global economies, her work presents an innovative AI-based solution.
Her Research
Her dissertation, titled “Adoption of Deep Learning Techniques for Prediction of Financial Crises: Bankruptcy and Credit Scoring,” introduced a novel hybrid deep learning model known as PSOSF-GAN (Particle Swarm Optimization Synthetic Feature Generative Adversarial Networks).
This model integrates:
- Binary Swarm Optimization (BPSO) for feature selection
- Bi-LSTM-CNN-based Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) for predictive analytics
Impact on the Financial Sector
Her research has major implications for banks, financial institutions, and credit agencies. The AI-driven model improves the accuracy of credit risk assessments, ensuring better financial decision-making and reducing financial fraud and loan defaults.
With PSOSF-GAN, financial experts can now make data-driven predictions, allowing governments, corporations, and investors to prepare for potential financial downturns.
Revolutionizing African Art with AI: Dr Dorcas Oladayo Esan’s Research
Dr Dorcas Oladayo Esan tackled an equally compelling challenge—the preservation and enhancement of African artistic heritage using AI.
Her Research
Her study, “Enhancement and Regeneration of 3-Dimensional African Artistic Images with Artificial Intelligence,” introduced the VAE-3DSDFCycleGAN framework, a combination of:
- Variational Autoencoder (VAE) for image enhancement
- Three-Dimensional Signed Distance Function (3DSDF) for creating 3D representations
- Cycle Generative Adversarial Network (CycleGAN) for improving image quality and accessibility
Impact on Art and Culture
Dr Esan’s research provides a new way to digitize, restore, and enhance African art using AI. This advancement benefits:
- Artists and museums, ensuring high-quality digital preservation
- Historians and educators, allowing better access to African heritage
- Virtual reality and gaming industries, integrating African art into digital platforms
Her work highlights how technology can bridge the gap between tradition and modernity, ensuring that African art is accessible to global audiences.
AI-Powered Medical Diagnostics: Dr Moanda Diana Pholo’s Research
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for AI in medical diagnostics. Dr Moanda Diana Pholo contributed to this field by developing a machine learning framework that can differentiate between Lymphoma, Tuberculosis, and COVID-19.
Her Research
Her dissertation, “Differentiating Lymphoma from Tuberculosis and COVID-19 Using Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing,” introduced an AI-driven diagnostic tool that analyzes clinical symptoms and medical reports to improve disease classification accuracy.
Impact on Healthcare
Her research offers several advantages to the medical industry:
- Early detection and accurate diagnosis of life-threatening diseases
- Reduced misdiagnosis and improved patient outcomes
- Faster decision-making for doctors and healthcare professionals
By integrating AI with medical diagnostics, her work has the potential to save lives and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.
Women Leading the Future of ICT
The success of Drs Adisa, Esan, and Pholo sends a powerful message—women are not just participating in the ICT field but are leading innovation. Their contributions highlight the growing need for diversity and gender inclusion in technology-driven industries.
Encouraging More Women in STEM
To ensure that more women enter and excel in ICT careers, there needs to be:
- More scholarships and funding for women in STEM
- Mentorship programs led by successful women in technology
- Industry collaboration to create equal career opportunities
The Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FoICT) at Tshwane University of Technology takes pride in celebrating these exceptional women, recognizing their breakthrough contributions in ICT.
Conclusion
The achievements of Dr Juliana Adeola Adisa, Dr Dorcas Oladayo Esan, and Dr Moanda Diana Pholo are groundbreaking milestones in the world of ICT, AI, and machine learning. From financial security and cultural preservation to advanced medical diagnostics, their research highlights the incredible potential of AI in transforming industries.
