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First female VC, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, dies at 89

By Michael Egbejule, Benin City
26 March 2022   |   4:02 am
Nigeria’s first female Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams died yesterday at the age of 89.

Nigeria’s first female Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams died yesterday at the age of 89.

The Guardian gathered that the erudite scholar and professor of Mathematics was born December 16, 1932.

Until her demise, she was the first female vice chancellor at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State.

Alele-Williams was born in Warri, Delta State. She attended Government School, Warri; Queen’s College, Lagos and the University College, Ibadan (now University of Ibadan).

She obtained a Master’s degree in Mathematics while teaching at Queen’s School, Ede, Osun State in 1957 as well as her PhD in Mathematics Education at the University of Chicago (U.S.) in 1963. She also got married in 1963.

Upon her return to Nigeria, she became a post-doctoral research fellow in the Department of Education, University of Ibadan. In 1965, she joined the University of Lagos where she worked until 1985.

During this time, she also directed the Institute of Education where she introduced some programmes to benefit teachers.

She participated in the African Mathematics Programme based at the Educational Development Center, Newton, Massachusetts. The goal of the programme was to consider changes in Mathematics education in Africa.

By serving in various committees and boards, Alele-Williams made useful contributions to the development of education in Nigeria. She was chairman of the Curriculum Review Committee, former Bendel State (1973-1979). From 1979 to1985, she served as chairman of the Lagos State Curriculum Review Committee and Lagos State Examinations Board.

Alele-Williams was a member of Governing Council, UNESCO Institute of Education. She was also a consultant to UNESCO and the Institute of International Education Planning.

For a decade (1963-73), she was a member of the African Mathematics Programme located in Newton, Massachusetts, United States. She was also Vice-President of the World Organisation for Early Childhood Education and later president of the Nigerian chapter.

Alele-Williams published a book titled Modern Mathematics Handbook for Teachers. After serving as the vice-chancellor of the University of Benin, she joined the Board of Directors of Chevron-Texaco Nigeria. She had five children and six grandchildren.

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