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Christie Ade Ajayi

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Christie Ade Ajayi
Born
Christie Aduke Martins

(1930-03-13) 13 March 1930 (age 94)
Ile Oluji, Ondo State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
SpouseJ. F. Ade Ajayi

Christie Ade Ajayi (born 1930) is a Nigerian specialist in early childhood education. She is the author of various English-language books for young children, and has made a point of writing stories with a Nigerian setting that her readers can relate to. As well as having long experience of teaching she has been active in a number of organisations concerned with children and education.

Biography

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Born Christie Aduke Martins on 13 March 1930 in Ile Oluji, Ondo State, Christie Ade Ajayi (also written Ade-Ajayi) went to Kudeti Girls' School in Ibadan (now known as St. Anne's School) and then to United Missionary College, Ibadan where she trained to be a teacher.[1] She also studied in London at the Froebel Institute[2] and then at the Institute of Education where she received a Diploma in Child Development in 1958.[1] Between 1952 and 1978 she taught in various schools in Nigeria and one in London, became a headmistress,[3] and also went to San Jose State University, California where she was awarded a Diploma in Elementary School Administration and Leadership in 1971.[1] She married J. F. Ade Ajayi in 1956 with whom she had five children.[4] A friend of the family has described her "outgoing nature" and the family's "hospitable house".[5]

Books

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Ade Ajayi's experience in early years teaching led to a concern "with the learning needs of Nigerian children".[6] She was motivated to encourage preschoolers and beginner readers by offering them books that reflected their own experience and culture.[7] While enjoying stories and pictures of West African characters they could enlarge their vocabulary and develop reading skills.

Among her books are:

  • Ade, our naughty little brother, Ibadan: Onibonoje, 1974
  • The old story-teller, Ibadan: Onibonoje, 1975 (inspired by Yoruba folktales)
  • Akin goes to school, with Michael Crowder, African Universities Press; J. Murray 1978
  • Ali's bicycle, Ibadan: Macmillan, 1982
  • Emeka's dog, Ibadan: Macmillan, 1982
  • The book of animal riddles, Ibadan: Macmillan, 1982
  • Pictionary, Longman 1986
  • Which Way, Amina?, Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Ltd, 2001
  • The Big Yellow House, West African Book Publishers Limited, 2004[8][9]

Education expert

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She has held a variety of leadership posts in educational organisations.[3] These include:

  • Founder of the Ibadan branch of the World Organization for Early Childhood Education (OMEP:Organisation Mondiale Pour L'Éducation Préscolaire) in 1986.[10] As a long-standing honorary member of OMEP she helped host their 2009 world assembly in Lagos.[11]
  • Chairman, Nursery School Board, University of Lagos[12]
  • Consultant in Early Childhood Education, University of Ibadan[13]
  • Member, Board of Governors, University of Lagos 1972-1978[1]
  • Member, Board of Governors, St. Mary's Girls School, Ikole-Ekiti, 1976-1980[1]

In 1993 the International Journal of Early Childhood published her article on 'Collaboration with other international agencies in community development programmes: The Nigerian experience'.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Otokunefor, Henrietta C.; Nwodo, Obiageli C. (1989). Nigerian Female Writers: A Critical Perspective. Malthouse Press. pp. 99–100. ISBN 978-978-2601-09-4.
  2. ^ Fayose, Philomena Osazee Esigbemi (1995). Nigerian Children's Literature in English. AENL Educational Publishers. p. 70. ISBN 978-978-2526-24-3.
  3. ^ a b Ifaturoti, Kunle (1994). To Have and to Hold: Salute to Forty Years of Married Life. NPS Educational. p. 250. ISBN 978-978-2556-86-8.
  4. ^ Bown, Lalage (September 10, 2014). "JF Ade Ajayi obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077.
  5. ^ Peel, J. D. Y. (2015). "J. F. Ade Ajayi: A Memorial". Africa. 85 (4): 745–749. doi:10.1017/S0001972015000571.
  6. ^ G. D. Killam, Alicia L. Kerfoot, Student Encyclopedia of African Literature, ABC-CLIO 2008
  7. ^ The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature, Ed. Jack Zipes
  8. ^ Zaccheus Onumba Dibiaezue Memorial Libraries
  9. ^ WOMEN WRITING AFRICA
  10. ^ Nigerian Tribune
  11. ^ "OMEP world assembly, Lagos" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-01-11. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
  12. ^ Gibson, Joy; Chennells, Prue (1976). Gifted Children: Looking to Their Future. Latimer New Dimensions [for] the National Association for Gifted Children. p. 349. ISBN 978-0-901539-48-9.
  13. ^ Ajike Osanyin, F. (2002). Early Childhood Education in Nigeria. Concept Publications. ISBN 978-978-2309-90-7.
  14. ^ Ajayi, Christie Ade (1993). "Collaboration with other international agencies in community development programmes: The Nigerian experience". International Journal of Early Childhood. 25 (2): 66–68. doi:10.1007/BF03185622.
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