Nigeria’s first female Professor, Adetowun Ogunsheye, aged 95, authored, published and launched her book titled “Aso Oke” in Ibadan, Oyo State in her quest to promote African cultural heritage.

She had her secondary education at Queens College, Yaba, Lagos before becoming the only female student to attend Yaba Higher School, (now Yaba College of Technology) in 1946. In 1948, she received her diploma, becoming the first woman to graduate from the school. She attended University College Ibadan, then went on to Newnham College, Cambridge University, UK, to study Geography on scholarship, earning BA and MA degrees in 1952 and 1956, respectively; she became the first Nigerian woman there. She earned another master’s degree in Library Science from Simmons College, Massachusetts, USA in 1962.

Ogunsheye, is a professor of Library Studies. She wrote the book because she believes that Aso Oke is still a strong part of Yoruba culture and she has deep respect for the textile and the impactful role it had played in the society.

The book is divided into two parts, the first part consists of three published papers while the second part showcases an impressive catalogue of the Aso Oke fabric collection arranged in decade order.

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