In the rarefied air of global academic excellence, few shine as brightly or with as much purposeful intent as Professor Rita Orji. A veritable titan in the field of Computer Science, her biography reads like a catalogue of the highest honours in Canadian science and academia. She is a Canada Research Chair in Persuasive Technology, an NSERC Arthur B. McDonald Fellow, one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, and a member of the prestigious Royal Society of Canada. Yet, to list her accolades alone is to miss the essence of her profound impact: she is a visionary dedicated to harnessing technology for the profound betterment of humanity.
Based at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she serves as a Full Professor and directs the Persuasive Computing Lab, Professor Orji’s work sits at the fascinating confluence of technology and human behaviour. Her research explores how computing systems can be designed to motivate and persuade people towards positive life choices, be it in health, sustainability, or education. This is not technology for its own sake; it is technology with a heart, designed for public and social good.
Her journey to this pinnacle is a powerful narrative of dedication and global perspective. She earned a Master’s degree in Information Systems from the Middle East Technical University in Turkey before completing a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Saskatchewan, graduating with a staggering 96% average. Her influence extends back to her roots in Nigeria, where she served as a Visiting Professor and Senior Lecturer for several years, tirelessly working to inspire and elevate the next generation of African technologists.
Beyond her groundbreaking research, Professor Orji is a formidable force as a communicator and influencer. As a LinkedIn Top Voice with nearly 300,000 followers, she has mastered the art of demystifying complex topics and motivating a global audience. She is passionately committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in STEM, and is a powerful advocate for women and youth empowerment. She openly offers her expertise as a motivational speaker and brand ambassador, though she wisely advises organisations to “make reasonable compensation plans” for such engagements—a clear statement on the value of professional expertise, particularly that of women.
Professor Rita Orji is more than an academic; she is a builder. She builds life-changing technologies in her lab, builds connections through her powerful voice online, and builds pathways for those who will follow in her footsteps. She embodies a powerful new archetype: the compassionate innovator, using her formidable intellect not for prestige, but for purpose. In her world, the most persuasive technology is a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
