Born: 1932 (Warri, Delta State, Nigeria)
Died: 2022
Biography:
Grace Alele-Williams OON, FMAN, FNAE (16 December 1932 – 25 March 2022) was a Nigerian professor of mathematics education, who made history as the first Nigerian woman to receive a doctorate, and the first Nigerian female vice-chancellor at the University of Benin.
Grace Awani Alele was born to Itsekiri parents in Warri, Western Region (present-day Delta State), Nigeria on 16 December 1932. She attended Government School, Warri, Queen’s College, Lagos, and the University College of Ibadan (now University of Ibadan). While teaching at Queen’s School, Ede in Osun State in 1957, she obtained a master’s degree in mathematics. Grace Alele went on to pursue her PhD degree in mathematics education at the University of Chicago (U.S.) and in 1963, she became the first Nigerian woman to be awarded a doctorate. That same year, she got married and became known as Grace Alele-Williams.
After completing a few years of postdoctoral work at the University of Ibadan, Alele-Williams joined the University of Lagos in 1965. Her teaching career started at Queen’s School, Ede, Osun State, where she was a mathematics teacher from 1954 to 1957. She later moved to the University of Vermont, where she served as a graduate assistant and later an assistant professor. From 1963 to 1965, she held a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Department of Education at the University of Ibadan. In 1976, Alele-Williams was appointed a professor of mathematics at the University of Lagos.
Throughout her career, Alele-Williams had a special interest in women’s education. As the director of the Institute of Education, she introduced innovative non-degree programs at the University of Lagos, allowing older women working as elementary school teachers to receive certificates. She was committed to improving the access of female African students to scientific and technological subjects. Her interest in mathematics education was sparked during her stay in the United States, which coincided with the Sputnik phenomenon. She worked with the African Mathematics Program in Newton, Massachusetts, under the guidance of MIT professor Ted Martins and contributed to mathematics workshops held in various African cities from 1963 to 1975. Alele-Williams collaborated with leading mathematicians and educators to write textbooks and correspondence courses on basic concepts in mathematics. One notable achievement was the publication of the book Modern Mathematics Handbook for Teachers in 1974.
Besides her contributions to academia, Grace Alele-Williams also played a significant role in the development of education in Nigeria. She served on various committees and boards, including as chairman of the curriculum review committee for the former Bendel State from 1973 to 1979. From 1979 to 1985, she served as the chairman of the Lagos State Scholarship Board. Throughout her career, Alele-Williams advocated for quality education and equal opportunities for all.
Grace Alele-Williams paved the way for future generations of Nigerian women in academia and made lasting contributions to mathematics education. Her dedication to empowering women and promoting access to education has left a lasting impact on Nigerian society.
Awards:
– Order of the Niger (OON)
– Fellow of the Mathematical Association of Nigeria (FMAN)
– Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Education (FNAE)