Beatrice Aboyade
{{Short description|Nigerian librarian and professor (1935–2023)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
| name = Beatrice Olabimpe Aboyade
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| spouse = Professor Ojetunji Aboyade (deceased)
| children = 4
| birth_name = Beatrice Olabimpe
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1935|08|24}}
| birth_place = Ijebu Ode, Ogun State
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2023|03|03|1935|08|24}}
| death_place =
| alma_mater = University of Ibadan
University of Michigan
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| native_name = Olabimpe
| native_name_lang = Yoruba
| state = Ijebu Ode
| occupation = Librarian
}}
Beatrice Aboyade (24 August 1935 – 3 March 2023) was a Nigerian librarian and professor of Library Studies at University of Ibadan. She was regarded as a pioneer in Librarianship in Nigeria by the World Encyclopedia of Library and Information Services.{{Cite web |last=Abodunrin |first=Akintayo |date=2023-03-26 |title=Aboyade, Africa’s first female PhD in English Literature, for burial |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/aboyade-africas-first-female-phd-in-english-literature-for-burial/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Tribune Online |language=en-GB}} Aboyade worked in the University of Ibadan and University of Ile-Ife Libraries.{{Cite book|title = World Encyclopedia of Library and Information Services|last = Wedgeworth|first = Robert|publisher = American Library Association|year = 1993|isbn = 9780838906095|location = Chicago|pages = [https://archive.org/details/worldencyclopedi0000unse/page/1 1]|url-access = registration|url = https://archive.org/details/worldencyclopedi0000unse/page/1}}{{Cite book|title = Nigerian Women Annual: Who's Who|publisher = Gito & Associates|year = 1990|location = Benin City|pages = 15|issn = 0795-7807}}{{cite web | url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q22957852 | title=Beatrice Aboyade }}
Early life and education
Beatrice Aboyade had her primary education at Christ's Church Primary School, Porogun, Ijebu Ode.{{Cite web |last=Abodunrin |first=Akintayo |date=2023-03-26 |title=Aboyade, Africa’s first female PhD in English Literature, for burial |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/aboyade-africas-first-female-phd-in-english-literature-for-burial/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Tribune Online |language=en-GB}} She proceeded to Queen's College, Lagos, for her secondary education between 1948 and 1951. Between 1952 and 1953, she completed her high school at Queen's College, Ede. She earned her first degree in English from the University of Ibadan in 1960, then obtained further degrees from University of Michigan in 1964. In 1970, she completed her doctorate from University of Ibadan.
Personal life
She was married to Prof. Ojetunji Aboyade, professor of economics, from 1961 until his death in 1994.{{Cite web |url=https://blerf.org/index.php/biography/aboyade-prof-mrs-beatrice-olabimpe/ |title=ABOYADE, Prof. (Mrs.) Beatrice Olabimpe |website=Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation|date=19 July 2016 }}{{Cite web |last=Webmaster |date=2012-09-09 |title=Tribute: Aboyade and the burden of national progress |url=https://dailytrust.com/tribute-aboyade-and-the-burden-of-national-progress/ |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Daily Trust |language=en-GB}}
Career
Aboyade did not immediately become a librarian but spent a short time at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation before she joined the University of Ibadan library as an assistant librarian in 1962. She soon took up a new position as chief cataloger at the University of Ife in 1965. Three years later she returned to the University of Ibadan to lead their Reader Services. In 1972 she began to teach there when she became a university lecturer in the library science department.{{cite book |last1=Robert |first1=Wedgeworth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HSFu99FCJwQC&dq=Beatrice+Aboyade&pg=PA1 |title=World Encyclopedia of Library and Information Services |date=1993 |publisher=America Library Association |isbn=0838906095 |edition=3 |location=America |page=1 |access-date=8 February 2019}}
In 1978, she was promoted from senior lecturer when she was made a professor of library studies at University of Ibadan, and She served as head of department of Library, Archival and Information Studies at the university. She also ran the Rural Development Information System (RUDIS), which increased information access to rural people in Africa. Her work with RUDIS revealed that Nigerian rural libraries primarily served a functional requirement. The library books were used to show how to improve utilities such as roads, electricity, finance and piped water. Readers would find out about non local employment opportunities as well as information about fertilizers and trading opportunities.
Death
Beatrice Aboyade died on 3 March 2023, at the age of 87.{{cite news |title=Africa’s First Female Doctor of English Literature Is Dead |url=https://www.naijanews.com/2023/03/26/africas-first-female-doctor-of-english-literature-is-dead/ |access-date=2 September 2023 |publisher=Naija News |date=26 March 2023}}
References
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Category:People from Ijebu Ode
Category:Academic staff of the University of Ibadan
Category:Nigerian women academics
Category:Nigerian women librarians
Category:University of Michigan School of Information alumni
Category:Academic staff of Obafemi Awolowo University
Category:University of Ibadan alumni