Christie Ade Ajayi Explained
Christie Ade Ajayi (born 1930) is a Nigerian specialist in early childhood education. She is the author of various English-language books for young children, and has made a point of writing stories with a Nigerian setting that her readers can relate to. As well as having long experience of teaching she has been active in a number of organisations concerned with children and education.
Biography
Born Christie Aduke Martins on 13 March 1930 in Ile Oluji, Ondo State, Christie Ade Ajayi (also written Ade-Ajayi) went to Kudeti Girls' School in Ibadan (now known as St. Anne's School) and then to United Missionary College, Ibadan where she trained to be a teacher.[1] She also studied in London at the Froebel Institute[2] and then at the Institute of Education where she received a Diploma in Child Development in 1958.[1] Between 1952 and 1978 she taught in various schools in Nigeria and one in London, became a headmistress,[3] and also went to San Jose State University, California where she was awarded a Diploma in Elementary School Administration and Leadership in 1971.[1] She married J. F. Ade Ajayi in 1956 with whom she had five children.[4] A friend of the family has described her "outgoing nature" and the family's "hospitable house".[5]
Books
Ade Ajayi's experience in early years teaching led to a concern "with the learning needs of Nigerian children".[6] She was motivated to encourage preschoolers and beginner readers by offering them books that reflected their own experience and culture.[7] While enjoying stories and pictures of West African characters they could enlarge their vocabulary and develop reading skills.
Among her books are:
- Ade, our naughty little brother, Ibadan: Onibonoje, 1974
- The old story-teller, Ibadan: Onibonoje, 1975 (inspired by Yoruba folktales)
- Akin goes to school, with Michael Crowder, African Universities Press; J. Murray 1978
- Ali's bicycle, Ibadan: Macmillan, 1982
- Emeka's dog, Ibadan: Macmillan, 1982
- The book of animal riddles, Ibadan: Macmillan, 1982
- Pictionary, Longman 1986
- Which Way, Amina?, Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Ltd, 2001
- The Big Yellow House, West African Book Publishers Limited, 2004[8] [9]
Education expert
She has held a variety of leadership posts in educational organisations.[3] These include:
- Founder of the Ibadan branch of the World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP:Organisation Mondiale Pour L'Éducation Préscolaire) in 1986.[10] As a long-standing honorary member of OMEP she helped host their 2009 world assembly in Lagos.[11]
- Chairman, Nursery School Board, University of Lagos[12]
- Consultant in Early Childhood Education, University of Ibadan[13]
- Member, Board of Governors, University of Lagos 1972-1978[1]
- Member, Board of Governors, St. Mary's Girls School, Ikole-Ekiti, 1976-1980[1]
In 1993 the International Journal of Early Childhood published her article on 'Collaboration with other international agencies in community development programmes: The Nigerian experience'.[14]
Notes and References
- Book: Nigerian Female Writers: A Critical Perspective . 99–100 . 978-978-2601-09-4 . Otokunefor . Henrietta C. . Nwodo . Obiageli C. . 1989 . Malthouse Press .
- Book: Nigerian Children's Literature in English . 70 . 978-978-2526-24-3 . Fayose . Philomena Osazee Esigbemi . 1995 . AENL Educational Publishers .
- Book: To Have and to Hold: Salute to Forty Years of Married Life . 250 . 978-978-2556-86-8 . Ifaturoti . Kunle . 1994 . NPS Educational .
- News: Bown . Lalage . September 10, 2014 . JF Ade Ajayi obituary . The Guardian . en-GB . 0261-3077.
- J. F. Ade Ajayi: A Memorial . 10.1017/S0001972015000571 . 2015 . Peel . J. D. Y. . Africa . 85 . 4 . 745–749 .
- https://books.google.com/books?id=RPQpYJcI1I4C&dq G. D. Killam, Alicia L. Kerfoot, Student Encyclopedia of African Literature, ABC-CLIO 2008
- http://www.oxfordreference.com/ The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature, Ed. Jack Zipes
- http://zodml.org/ Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries
- http://aflit.arts.uwa.edu.au/FEMECalireEN.html WOMEN WRITING AFRICA
- http://tribuneonlineng.com/dressing-provocatively-shouldnt-excuse-rape/ Nigerian Tribune
- Web site: OMEP world assembly, Lagos . 2016-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170111004941/http://www.worldomep.org/files/1291761_WA_Minutes_with_annexes_Lagos_2009ENG.pdf . 2017-01-11 . dead .
- Book: Gifted Children: Looking to Their Future . 349 . 978-0-901539-48-9 . Gibson . Joy . Chennells . Prue . 1976 . Latimer New Dimensions [for] the National Association for Gifted Children .
- Book: Early Childhood Education in Nigeria . 978-978-2309-90-7 . Ajike Osanyin . F. . 2002 . Concept Publications .
- Collaboration with other international agencies in community development programmes: The Nigerian experience . 10.1007/BF03185622 . 1993 . Ajayi . Christie Ade . International Journal of Early Childhood . 25 . 2 . 66–68 .
