Nigeria First women - Women of Rubies

In Career Gems October 15, 2018 By Editor

AISHA BUHARI FOUNDATION BUILDS 70-BED CAPACITY MATERNITY HOSPITAL IN YOLA

The Clinic is being built to complement the existing 17 bed Maternity ward at the Centre.

Aisha Buhari’s personal physician, Dr. Mohammed Kamal, while inspecting the project said, the clinic when completed will cater for the health need of the people of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Taraba as well as the neighbouring Cameroon Republic.

Kamal, said the clinic was built as part of Aisha Buhari’s commitment to improve the healthcare of women and children in Nigeria.

The inspection was conducted to ascertain the level of work so far done.

Kamal, conveying Aisha’s optimism, said the project would be completed and handed over before the end of the year.

The facility, which is being built through private partnership comprises of emergency operation ward, consultation rooms, ultra sound room, Antenatal and Gynaecology ward, pharmacy, laboratory as well as family planning units.

The facility, when completed, will have the capacity of attending to 200 patients.

The Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Prof. Auwal Abubakar, said, the new Antenatal complex will assist the Centre to adequately cater for the health needs of women and children.

Abubakar said that the existing maternal centre was over stretched due to the influx of patients within and outside the state.

He said that the new complex will go a long way in reducing the challenges faced by patients during emergencies.

Credit: NAN

In Interviews&profile October 8, 2018 By Editor

PROFILE| MEET PROFESSOR GRACE ALELE-WILLIAMS, THE FIRST FEMALE VICE CHANCELLOR OF A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

Grace Alele-Williams (born December 16, 1932) is an Educator who made history as the first Nigerian woman to become the head (Vice Chancellor) of a Nigerian university, the University of Benin. She is also the first Nigerian woman to receive a doctorate degree. She is a professor of mathematics education.

Alele-Williams was born in Warri. She attended Government School, Warri, and Queen’s College, Lagos. She attended the University College (now the University of Ibadan), the University of Vermont (U.S) and the University of Chicago (U.S).

Her teaching career started at Queen’s School, Ede Osun State, where she was mathematics master from 1954 until 1957. She left for the University of Vermont to become a graduate assistant and later assistant professor. Between 1963 and ’65, Alele-Williams was a post doctoral research fellow, department (and institute) of Education, University of Ibadan from where she was appointed a professor of mathematics at the University of Lagos in 1976.

She has held and served in various capacities. 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.

Alele-Williams was a member of governing council, UNESCO Institute of Education. She is also a consultant to UNESCO and Institute of International Education Planning. For a decade (1963–73) she was a member of the African Mathematics Programme, located in Newton, Massachusetts, United States. She was also vice-president of the World Organization for Early Childhood Education and later president of the Nigerian chapter.

Alele-Williams has published a book titled Modern Mathematics Handbook for Teachers. After serving as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, she joined the board of directors of Chevron-Texaco Nigeria. She is also on the board of HIP Asset Management Company Ltd, an Asset Management Company in Lagos, Nigeria.

Professor Grace Awani Alele-Williams was a force to reckon with in the dark period for Nigeria’s higher education. Then, the activities of secret cults, confraternities and societies had spread within the Nigerian Universities especially in University of Benin. She made valuable impacts, with combination of courage, ingenuity and strategy that the growing tide of cultism was stemmed in the university.

In Interviews&profile October 2, 2018 By Editor

PROFILE| MEET CHIEF FOLAKE SOLANKE, THE FIRST FEMALE SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA

Chief Folake Solanke (born 29 March 1932), SAN, CON, is a Nigerian Lawyer, administrator, and social critic. She is the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the first Nigerian female lawyer to wear the silk gown as Senior Counsel. She is the first Commissioner of Western State, and is a former Chairperson of the Western Nigeria Television Broadcasting Corporation (WNTBC).

She was the 42nd and the first African International President of Zonta International, an international service organization that focus primarily on advancing the status of women. The 43rd International President was also African.

Upon her return to Nigeria in August 1962, Solanke began her law career at the chamber of late Honourable Justice Michael Adeyinka Odesanya (rtd), while teaching Latin and Mathematics at Yejide Girls Grammar School in Ibadan, Oyo State. Her father died in April 1963. In May 1963, after she was called to the Bar in absentia, she moved to the law office of Chief Frederick Rotimi Williams as junior counsel.

In 1972, Solanke was appointed the first Commissioner of Western State and chairperson of the Western Nigeria Television Broadcasting Corporation (WNTBC).

In 1981, Solanke became the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the first Nigerian female lawyer to wear the silk gown.

Solanke rose through the ranks of Zonta International, first serving as the District Governor for Africa and then as International Vice-President. In 1988, 1990, and 1994, Solanke ran for election to the International Presidency of the organization (she did not run in 1992). She lost the first two times, but won the third time, being elected in Hong Kong on July 21, 1994 as the 42nd International President, the first non–caucasian, African president of the organization since its establishment in 1919.

Solanke’s autobiography, Reaching for the stars was published in 2007. The book described her as a “Lady of many firsts” and how she rose to prominence in the legal profession.

In Interviews&profile March 9, 2017 By Editor

CELEBRATING NIKE AKANDE, FIRST NIGERIAN WOMAN TO BECOME MINISTER OF INDUSTRY

Dr. Onikepo Olufunmike Akande, OON was a director of both the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria, (NICON), and Nigeria Industrial Development Bank (NIDB),now Nigeria Bank of Industry.

Dr. Akande is an accomplished Management and Business Consultant as well as a successful industrialist and seasoned administrator and Accountant by training. Dr. Akande was the first woman honourable minister of industry in the Federal Government of Nigeria in December, 1997. She … has been a Director of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc., since February 06, 2012.

Dr. Akande served as a Director of Union Bank of Nigeria plc from April 4, 2008 to December 31, 2011. Chief Mrs. Akande served as a Director of Union Bank. In 2003, the prestigious national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) was bestowed on her in recognition of her outstanding virtues and services to the country.

Chief (Dr.) Mrs. Onikepo Nike Akande is the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and honorary life Vice-President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.

She Studied at University Tutorial College London and also Studied Accountancy from University of North London from 1965 to 1968. She also attended Postgraduate programme from Harvard Business School Boston USA, management courses from Oxford University United Kingdom and management courses from Institute for Management Development in Lausanne Switzerland

She is married with children to Chief Adebayo Akande