Full Name: Grace Awani Alele-Williams
State of Origin: Delta.
Ethnicity: Urobo (Waffe)
Date of Birth: December 16, 1932
Nationality: Nigerian
Marriage status: Married.
Spouse(s): Dr. Babatunde A. Williams
Parents: Mr and Mrs Alele
Residence: Warri, Nigeria
Language: Delta and English
Religion: Christian
Alma mater: University College (Known as University of Ibadan), The University of Vermont (U.S.) and the University of Chicago (U.S.)
Occupation: Teacher, Professor, Docror, Vice-chancellor
Position(S): Vice-Chancellor
Facebook: Grace Alele Williams
INTRODUCTION
Grace Allele was born in, Warri, Delta State on 16th December, 1932. Grace Alele-Williams attended Government School, Warri, and Queen's College, Lagos. She procedded to the University College (now the University of Ibadan) later to the University of Vermont (U.S.) and the University of Chicago (U.S.)
EDUCATION
She attended primary school in Warri and Queen’s College, Lagos. She was admitted to the University College Ibadan in 1949 and earned an Honours Degree in Mathematics from London University in 1954.
She obtained a PhD in mathematics.
CAREER
Grace Alele began her teaching career from 1950 when she was teaching Mathematics in every summer vacation at Hussey College, Warri Nigeria. After she completed of her first degree, she worked as a Mathematics teacher at Queen’s School, Ede, Osun State, between 1954 and 1957.
Later she left for the USA to obtain a Masters’ degree from the University of Vermont, Burlington. She also taught Mathematics as Graduate Assistant in the Mathematics Department whilst studying Education. In 1959, she obtained a Masters’ in Education and continued in the dual role of teaching mathematics and studying Education, using a Graduate Fellowship Award to the University of Chicago Illinois later in 1959.
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.From 1979-1985, she served as chairman of the Lagos State Curriculum Review Committee and Lagos State Examinations Boards.
Grace Alele participated in the changes that took place, in the field of mathematics and education: She became the chairman of the curriculum review committee, the introduction of new text and improved teacher’s education, aimed at maintaining America’s position as world leader.
Her hard work paid off as she was conferred with a Doctorate Degree in Comparative Education from the University of Chicago in March 1963. This made history in Nigeria as she was the first Nigerian female to have a Ph.D Degree.
On her return to Nigeria in 1963, Dr. Alele began her academic career as a post doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Mathematics and in the Institute of Education at the University of Ibadan. She introduced her research in the teaching of modern mathematics into a few schools in Ibadan and in Lagos.
LOVE, MARRIAGE AND CHILDREN
In December 1963, she married a young handsome political scientist, Dr. Babatunde A. Williams, at that time a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ife Osun. They both moved to the University of Lagos in 1965, on her being employed as Lecturer I in the Teaching of Mathematics into the Faculty of Education at the University of Lagos. Dr. Mrs. Grace Alele Williams remained at the University of Lagos where she worked until 1985.
This union is blessed with five (5) children and ten (10) grand children as at 2017
INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT GRACE ALELE WILLIAMS
- Grace Alele- Williams was honored with a chieftaincy title of the Utukpa Iwere (the light of Iwere land) of Warri kingdom by the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwole’s the first in Warri on 30th September 2016.
- The first Nigerian woman to earn any doctorate in mathematics
- She is the first woman appointed as vice-chancellor of a Nigerian university (University of Benin)
- Professor Alele Williams was appointed Director of the Institute of Education, University of Lagos in 1975, a post held until 1985.
- She is the chairperson of the Board of City Profs. Academy (CPA), a non-governmental organization established to assist less privileged children in public schools to read and write English.
- She also introduced new university courses that included a Professional University Diploma in Education (P.S.E) for Head Teachers and Supervisors in areas such as Early Childhood Education, Home Economics, School Administration, English and Social Sciences, Mathematics and Science.
- She is a member of the Board of the New Nigerian Foundation (NNF),
AWARDS, HONOURS, LAURELS AND RECOGNITIONS
- Fellow of the Mathematical Association of Nigeria
- Fellow Nigerian Academy of Education
- Merit Award Winner of Bendel State in Nigeria
- Regional Vice President for Africa of the Third World Organization for Women in Science" (Science in Africa: Women Leading from Strength AAAS, Washington, 1993)
- Chairwoman of AMUCWMA, the African Mathematical Union Commission for Women in Mathematics
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