Grace Alele-Williams Explained

Birth Name:Grace Alele
Honorific Suffix:OON, FMAN, FNAE
Birth Date:16 December 1932
Birth Place:Warri, Western Region, Nigeria
Death Place:Lagos, Nigeria
Education:PhD (mathematics)
Alma Mater:University College of Ibadan
University of Chicago
Children:5

Grace Alele-Williams (16 December 1932 – 25 March 2022) was a Nigerian professor of mathematics education,[1] [2] who made history as the first Nigerian woman to receive a doctorate,[3] [4] and the first Nigerian female vice-chancellor at the University of Benin.[5] [6] [7]

Early life and education

Grace Awani Alele was born to Itsekiri parents in Warri, Western Region (present-day Delta State), Nigeria on 16 December 1932.[8] She attended Government School, Warri, Queen's College, Lagos and the University College of Ibadan[9] (now University of Ibadan). She obtained a master's degree in mathematics while teaching at Queen's School, Ede in Osun State in 1957 and her PhD degree in mathematics education at the University of Chicago (U.S.) in 1963,[9] thereby making her the first Nigerian woman to be awarded a doctorate. Grace Alele was married later that year and became known as Grace Alele-Williams. She returned to Nigeria for a couple of years' postdoctoral work at the University of Ibadan before joining the University of Lagos in 1965.[10]

Career

Alele-Williams's teaching career started at Queen's School, Ede, Osun State, where she was a mathematics teacher from 1954 to 1957. She left for the University of Vermont to become a graduate assistant and later assistant professor. From 1963 to 1965, Alele-Williams was a postdoctoral research fellow, department (and institute) of education, University of Ibadan from where she was appointed a professor of mathematics at the University of Lagos in 1976.[6]

She had a special interest in women's education. While spending a decade directing the institute of education, she introduced innovative non-degree programmes, allowing older women working as elementary school teachers to receive certificates. Alele-Williams has always demonstrated concern for the access of female African students to scientific and technological subjects.[1] Her interest in mathematics education was originally sparked by her stay in the US, which coincided with the Sputnik phenomenon. Working with the African Mathematics Program in Newton, Massachusetts, under the leadership of MIT professor Ted Martins, she participated in mathematics workshops held in various African cities from 1963 to 1975.[10] Highlights included writing texts and correspondence courses covering basic concepts in mathematics working in concert with leading mathematicians and educators. such as the book Modern Mathematics Handbook for Teachers published in 1974. She taught at the University of Lagos from 1965 to 1985, and spent a decade directing the institute of education, which introduced innovative non-degree programmes, with many of the certificate recipients older women working as elementary school teachers. By serving in various committees and boards, Alele-Williams had made useful contributions in the development of education in Nigeria. She was chairman of the curriculum review committee, former Bendel State 1973–1979.[11] [12] From 1979 to 1985, she served as chairman of the Lagos State curriculum review committee and Lagos State examinations boards.[10]

Alele-Williams was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Benin in 1985, becoming the first female vice-chancellor of a Nigerian university,[13] and she believes her appointment, which ended in 1992, was "a test case to demonstrate a woman's executive capability".[6]

Alele-Williams was a force for reform in the dark age for Nigeria's higher education in the 1980s. Then, the activities of secret cults, confraternities and societies had spread within the Nigerian universities, especially in University of Benin. A task which many men had failed, she was able to make notable contributions.

After serving as the vice-chancellor of the University of Benin, she joined the board of directors of Chevron-Texaco Nigeria. She was also on the board of HIP asset management company limited, an asset management company in Lagos, Nigeria. Alele-Williams was a member of governing council, UNESCO Institute of Education.[1] She was also a consultant to the UNESCO and Institute of International Education Planning.[14] [10] For a decade (1963–73), she was a member of the African Mathematics Programme, located in Newton, Massachusetts, United States.[6] She was vice-president of the World Organisation for Early Childhood Education and later president of the Nigeria chapter, and the first president of the African Mathematical Union Commission on Women in Mathematics.[15] She also served ten years (1993–2004) as regional vice-president for Africa of the Third World Organization for Women in Science.[16]

Personal life and death

Alele-Williams married Babatunde Abraham Williams (1932–2010) in December 1963, not long after returning to Nigeria from the United States. Williams was a political scientist who, at the time of their marriage, was a senior lecturer at the University of Ife, Osun State.[17]

Alele-Williams had five children, and, as of 2017, ten grandchildren.[2] She died on 25 March 2022 at the age of 89.[18] [19] [20] The next day, the University of Benin flew the institution's flag at half-mast to mourn her death.[21] [22]

Awards

Alele-Williams received several awards and honours. She received the Order of the Niger in 1987, and was elected a Fellow of the Mathematical Association of Nigeria and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Education.[23]

On 28 February 2014, she was one of 100 people to receive the Centenary Award, "a special recognition of unique contributions of Nigerians to the socio-cultural, economic and political development of the country in the last 100 years".[24] [25] [26]

She is included in a deck of playing cards featuring notable women mathematicians published by the Association of Women in Mathematics.[27]

Publications

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Grace Alele-Williams: Mathematician who dealt with cultism at UNIBEN. Taire. Morenike. Vanguard News. 14 April 2018. 23 May 2018. 23 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180523011457/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/grace-alele-williams-mathematician-dealt-cultism-uniben/. live.
  2. Web site: Grace Alele, Role Model, Teacher, Professor, Doctor, Vice-chancellor, Warrior, Prominent Nigerian, Nigeria Personality Profiles. 20 May 2021. www.nigeriagalleria.com. 29 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210429150337/https://www.nigeriagalleria.com/Nigeria/Personality-Profiles/Prominent-Nigerians/Grace-Alele.html. live.
  3. Web site: Riddle . Larry . Grace Alele Williams . Biographies of Women Mathematicians . . 27 March 2022 . 16 February 2022 . 22 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220222131014/https://mathwomen.agnesscott.org/women/williams.htm . live .
  4. Web site: 5 women who have made their marks in education. 8 March 2018. www.pulse.ng. en-US. 20 March 2019. 1 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220701120441/https://www.pulse.ng/communities/student/international-womens-day-5-women-who-have-made-their-marks-in-education/rsw5836. live.
  5. . Review by Theresa Onwughalu in the Daily Sun, 25 July 2006.
  6. .
  7. Web site: Prof. Mrs Grace Alele Williams OFR, HLR . Hallmarks of Labour Foundation . 28 November 2011 . 9 December 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131216151023/http://www.hallmarksoflabour.org/2011/11/prof-mrs-grace-alele-williams-ofr-hlr/ . 16 December 2013 .
  8. Howell. Karin-Therese. Neudauer. Nancy Ann. 2022. Grace Alele-Williams Nigerian Mathematician of Many Firsts - Breaking Down Barriers and Opening Paths. Notices of the American Mathematical Society. 69. 439–455.
  9. Web site: Personality of The Week – Grace Alele williams. 20 November 2014. SilverbirdTV. en-US. 9 May 2019. 1 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220701120441/https://silverbirdtv.com/personality-of-the-week-grace-alele-williams-2/. live.
  10. Web site: Grace Alele Williams - Black Women in Mathematics. www.math.buffalo.edu. 9 May 2019. 4 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210304172020/http://www.math.buffalo.edu/mad/PEEPS/williams_grace_alele.html. live.
  11. Web site: Grace Alele-Williams. Heels of Influence. en-US. 29 May 2020. 30 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201030185853/https://heelsofinfluence.com/grace-alele-williams/. live.
  12. Web site: Grace awani ALELE-WILLIAMS – Legacy Way. admin. en-US. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201128094639/https://www.ourlegacyway.com/grace-awani-alele-williams/. 28 November 2020. 2 May 2020.
  13. Web site: 12 April 2018. First Female Vice Chancellor in Nigeria. 27 April 2021. Hintnaija. en-US. 27 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210427200950/https://hintng.com/first-female-vice-chancellor-in-nigeria/. live.
  14. Web site: Unesco. Women in Higher Education Management. 7. 13 January 2014. 19 March 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150319022817/http://www.unesco.org/education/pdf/24_211.pdf. live.
  15. Ouedraogo. Pr Marie Françoise. Marie Françoise Ouedraogo. AWMA: une association au service des femmes mathématiciennes africaines. Femmes et Mathematiques: Mathématiciennes africaines. 30 May 2015. Institut Henri Poincaré. fr. 15 January 2021. 21 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210121040402/https://femmes-et-maths.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AWMA-Paris-30-mai-2015.pdf. live.
  16. Web site: Executive Board . owsd.net . 6 February 2015 . . 28 March 2022 . 20 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200620040448/https://owsd.net/about-owsd/who-we-are/executive-board . live .
  17. Web site: O'Connor . J. J. . Robertson . E. F. . Grace Alele-Williams – Biography . . 27 April 2021 . en . 27 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210427200950/https://mathshistory.st-andrews.ac.uk/Biographies/Alele-Williams/ . live .
  18. News: Egbejule . Michael . First female VC, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, dies at 89 . 27 March 2022 . The Guardian Nigeria . 26 March 2022 . 27 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327070039/https://guardian.ng/news/first-female-vc-prof-grace-alele-williams-dies-at-89/ . live .
  19. News: Millz . Bayo . 25 March 2022 . Just In: First female VC, Prof Alele-Williams allegedly dies at 89 . 25 March 2022 . TheNewsGuru . en-US . 25 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220325183151/https://thenewsguru.com/news/just-in-first-female-vc-prof-alele-williams-allegedly-dies-at-89/ . live .
  20. News: Akintade . Adefemola . 25 March 2022 . Nigeria's first female Vice-Chancellor Grace Alele-Williams is dead . 25 March 2022 . Peoples Gazette . en-US . 25 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220325220825/https://gazettengr.com/nigerias-first-female-vice-chancellor-grace-alele-williams-is-dead/ . live .
  21. News: UNIBEN flies flag at half-mast to mourn Alele-Williams . 27 March 2022 . Vanguard News . 26 March 2022 . The University of Benin (UNIBEN) on Saturday ordered the flying of the institution’s flag at half-mast to mourn the death of the first female vice-chancellor in Nigeria, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams. Alele-Williams, who was appointed vice-chancellor of the University of Benin in 1985 died on Friday in Lagos at the age of 89 years. ... Prof. Alele-Williams, Nigeria’s first female professor of Mathematics Education was born on Dec. 16, 1932 in Delta to an Itsekiri mother and Owan father from Sobe, Edo. . 26 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220326193915/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/03/uniben-flies-flag-at-half-mast-to-mourn-alele-williams/ . live .
  22. News: Ahon . Festus . Ojiego . Nnamdi . Aliu . Ozioruva . ALELE – WILLIAMS: More tributes as Okowa, Obaseki mourn . 27 March 2022 . Vanguard News . 27 March 2022 . the UNIBEN have ordered that the institution's flag be mounted at half-mast to mourn the death of the late professor. Alele-Williams, who passed on Friday evening in Lagos at the age of 89 years, was born in Warri, Delta State. . 27 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327021846/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/03/alele-williams-more-tributes-as-okowa-obaseki-mourn/ . live .
  23. News: 15 December 2021 . Buhari felicitates first woman Nigerian Professor, Alele-Willaims, at 89 . 7 March 2022 . The Nation Newspaper . en-US . 7 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220307113920/https://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-felicitates-first-woman-nigerian-professor-alele-willaims-at-89/ . live .
  24. Web site: 100 Nigerians get Centenary Awards Friday (tonight) [Full List] ]. Premium Times Nigeria . 27 March 2022 . 28 February 2014 . The full list of the awardees, including those who have rejected the honour is reproduced below along with the categories: ... C. PIONEERS IN PROFESSIONAL CALLINGS/CAREERS ... 30. Professor Grace Alele-Williams . 27 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220327165533/https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/155979-100-nigerians-get-centenary-awards-friday-tonight-full-list.html . live .
  25. Akpan . Mike . Demeaning Centenary Awards . Realnews Magazine . 24 March 2014 . 27 March 2022 . en . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220117101133/https://realnewsmagazine.net/news/3079-Demeaning-Centenary-Awards . live .
  26. Web site: Grace Alele Williams receives deafening ovation. Encomium Magazine. 28 February 2014. 27 April 2021. en-US. 27 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210427200955/http://encomium.ng/grace-alele-williams-receives-deafening-ovation/. live.
  27. Web site: Mathematicians of EvenQuads Deck 1 . live . 2022-06-18 . awm-math.org . 19 June 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220619004306/https://awm-math.org/publications/playing-cards/deck1/#alelewilliams .
  28. Williams. Grace Alele. 1974. Dynamics of Curriculum Change in Mathematics—Lagos State Modern Mathematics Project. West African Journal of Education. en. 9 May 2019. 7 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210507115838/https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ112796. live.
  29. Web site: Alele-Williams. G.. 1986. Education of Women for National Development. 9 May 2019. 19 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210319131625/https://www.africabib.org/rec.php?RID=W00065173. live.
  30. Williams. Grace Alele. 1 June 1971. Report: The Entebbe mathematics project. International Review of Education. en. 17. 2. 210–214. 10.1007/BF01421114. 1573-0638. 1971IREdu..17..210W. 144062711.
  31. WILLIAMS. GRACE A. ALELE. 1976. The development of a modern mathematics curriculum in Africa. The Arithmetic Teacher. 23. 4. 254–261. 10.5951/AT.23.4.0254. 0004-136X. 41188955.
  32. Williams . Grace Alele . Education and Government in Northern Nigeria . . 1973 . 87 . 3 . 156–177 . 10.3917/presa.087.0156. . In: Book: Lema . Anza A . Williams . Grace Alele . Simiyu . Vincent G. . Presence Africaine. Revue Culturelle du Monde Noir / Cultural Review of the Negro World. Nouvelle Serie Bilingual / New Bilingual Series. No. 87, 3e Trimestre / 3rd Quarterly, 1973 . 1973 . 27 March 2022 . en . 16 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210416183642/https://www.presenceafricaine.com/revue-culturelle-monde-noir/890-revue-presence-africaine-n-87-327638.html . live .
  33. In Nigerian women and development (1988), edited by Ogunṣhẹyẹ, F. Adetowun; Domenico, Catherine D.; Dennis, Carolyne; Awosika, Keziah; Akinkoye, Olu. Ibadan, Nigeria: Ibadan University Press., pages 171–179
  34. Book: Alele-Williams, G.. 1992. Major Constraints to Women's Access to Higher Education. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000094115. Higher Education in Africa: Trends and Challenges for the 21st Century . UNESCO. 1992. en. 71–76.
  35. Web site: Celebrating Prof Grace Alele Williams, Nigeria's first female Vice Chancellor. 23 January 2021. TheDailyNG. 11 February 2020. en-US. 31 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210131000443/https://www.thedaily-ng.com/celebrating-prof-grace-alele-williams-nigerias-first-female-vice-chancellor/. live.
  36. Chukunta. N. K. Onuoha. 1978. Education and National Integration in Africa: A Case Study of Nigeria. African Studies Review. 21. 2. 67–76. 10.2307/523662. 523662. 143632871. 0002-0206. 23 January 2021. 30 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210130040347/https://www.jstor.org/stable/523662. live.

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