Prof Grace Alele Williams was born in Warri, Delta State on December 16, 1932. She attended the prestigious Queens College, Yaba from where she went on to the University of Ibadan, the University of Vermount and later, University of Chicago, both in the United States of America. In 1974 she became the first female professor of mathematics.
In 1963, Williams became the first Nigerian woman to earn any doctorate – in this case, for mathematics. She later became the first woman appointed vice-chancellor of a Nigerian university.
Mrs. Williams made her mark as a first class academician and later proved herself as a skilled administrator; she is one of the first Nigerian women to obtain a PhD in mathematics. She was also the country’s first female vice-chancellor (University of Benin 1985-1991).
In 1973 she was the chairman of the curriculum review committee she is a member of the governing council of UNESCO institute of education, consultant to UNESCO and Institute of International Education Planning as well as member of Africa mathematics programme at Newton Massachusetts USA. She has also being a vice-president of the World Organisation for Early Childhood Education. Alele-Williams was also on the Vision 2010 committee. A consumate author on mathematics, she is a director of Chevron Nigeria Limited. National honours include Order of the Niger 1987
Among her honors are those of Fellow of the Mathematical Association of Nigeria and of the Nigerian Academy of Education; Merit Award Winner of Bendel State in Nigeria; and Regional Vice President for Africa of the Third World Organization for Women in Science” (Science in Africa: Women Leading from Strength AAAS, Washington, 1993,. It may be added that Professor Williams is also the Chairwoman of AMUCWMA, the African Mathematical Union Commission for Women in Mathematics.
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