The first female Vice Chancellor in Nigeria and renowned mathematician, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams has died at the age of 89.
Born on December 16, 1932, Alele-Williams was also the first Nigerian female to bag a doctorate.
Edo State Governor Gidwin Obaseki, while mourning the death of the former VC of University of Benin, said “It is with a heavy heart that I received the sad news of the passing of renowned academic and administrator, Prof. Grace Alele-Williams.
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“Prof. Alele-Williams was a thoroughbred academician who throughout her life left an indelible mark of dutiful service, hard work, diligence and determination.
“She was an Amazon, who tread where others dreaded. Her devotion to national development is unmatched.
“As the first female Nigerian to earn a doctorate degree in mathematics, Prof. Alele-Williams was a woman of many firsts. She shattered the glass ceiling and didn’t look back thereafter.
“When she became the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) – at the time the first ever female Vice Chancellor of a Nigerian university – she shone brightly as a fearless administrator and restored sanity to the higher institution during a period of social upheaval.
“Prof. Alele-Williams will be remembered for her insight, dedication to duty and courage as well as her commitment to breaking barriers limiting the advancement of women in uncharted territories.
“I commiserate with the Alele-Williams family, praying that God will grant all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”
Alele-Williams, was born in Delta State, went to Government School, Warri; Queens College, Lagos; and the University College of Ibadan (now the University of Ibadan).
She obtained her 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 (US) in 1963.
