Prof. Grace Alele-Williams, the first Nigerian female Vice-Chancellor and first Nigerian woman to receive a doctorate in mathematics is dead.
The death of the former vice-chancellor of the University of Benin was disclosed by some prominent Itsekiri sons and daughters on Friday.
Also confirming her death, a University of Benin lecturer, who does not want her name in print disclosed that the late professor died this evening.
Born in Warri Delta state on the 16 December 1932, Alele-Williams attended Government School, Warri, Queen’s College, Lagos and the University College of Ibadan (now University of Ibadan) where she obtained a master’s degree in mathematics in 1957 and a PhD degree in mathematics education at the University of Chicago (U.S.) in 1963. Thereby making her the first Nigerian woman to be awarded a doctorate.
The late professor of mathematics came to the academic limelight when she became the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin in 1985 having started her teaching career at Queen’s School, Ede, Osun State in 1957.
Alele-Williams was also the first president of the African Mathematical Union Commission on Women in Mathematics.