This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Joyce Aluko, 86 years old, born on September 20, 1934, and passed away on March 5, 2021. We will remember her forever.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Official Statement Of The Aluko Family On The Passing Away Of Mrs. Joyce Anomoghan Aluko.
We announce, with a deep sense of loss but great gratitude to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for a full and Christian life well-lived, the death of our saintly mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, social worker, foremost university administrator and defender of women's rights, Mrs Joyce Anomoghan Aluko, at 5.40 pm (Nigerian time) on Friday March 5, 2021, at Akure, Ondo-State, Nigeria. She died peacefully, exiting at age 86, survived by all her six children Mobolaji, Olufemi, Morenike, Gbenga, Olubunmi and Adeyemi, twenty-four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and other family members.
Born at Ekpoma, Edo State on September 20, 1934, to Pa John Willie Ofuya of Ikoro (Olodiama Ijaw clan) and Madam Ruth Agbisi Ofuya of Arokho (Owan West LGA), both of present-day Edo State, she attended St. Andrew’s Anglican Primary School, Ekpoma (1941-48), and secondary school at Queen’s College Lagos/Queen’s School Ede (1949-1953). She got engaged to (now late Professor) Samuel Adepoju Aluko – who she had first met in 1947 at Ekpoma - in August 1954, and they were married in Lagos on Valentine’s Day 1955. Joyce proceeded abroad for university education to join her husband at the London School of Economics, where she earned a Certificate in Social Science and Administration (1958), as well as at the London School of Medical Social Work (Certificate in MSW, 1959). After returning to Nigeria, she attended the University of Ife (Bachelors in Economics, 1965) – graduating with honours in the same department where her husband taught - and then proceeded again to the University of Birmingham (Masters in Social Work, 1974) during a sabbatical year of her husband at the same university.
She worked as a draughtsman at the Federal School of Survey (1954), and a teacher at St. Andrew’s Primary School at Ekpoma (1955-1956). She then worked as a Medical Social Worker at the University College Hospital (UCH) from 1959-1962, Administrative Officer in the Dean’s Office at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1965-67), and then did top administrative duties at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) from 1967 to 1979, rising from an Administrative Officer to Deputy Registrar/Director of Planning, Budgeting and Monitoring. She transferred her service to the University of Benin, where, from 1979 to 1981, she was the Director of Academic Planning, from where she retired with meritorious service honors.
Upon retirement, she formed Academic Planning Consultants APC with Prof. Sam Aluko, doing consultancy services for many Universities in Nigeria. She was Chairperson of Nigerian National Commission for UNESCO delegation for fifteen years (1993-2008), and a delegate to the Beijing Women’s Conference in September 1995.
Ever since family and friends have learnt of her passing, we have been overwhelmed by stories about her impact on many lives. We thank everybody for their messages of condolence. Even in transition to the glorious arms of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, we hope and trust that fond memories of her illustrious life will continue to inspire people.
Our now late Matriarch lived as simple a life as her late husband, and so her burial will be kept also simple and dignified. She will be interned at a grave-site next to our late father at Ode-Ekiti. Further details of activities (Service of Songs, Commendation Service, Funeral Service and Internment) will be released in the coming days. In the meantime, we urge you to pray for us all as we plan these details; that as we mourn with dignity as Christians with hope, God in His mercy will grant all of us strength.
During this pandemic period, rather than travel to physically witness our Matriarch’s final celebrations here on Earth, we encourage as many people as possible to join these activities via Zoom, as seating will be very limited in venues to close family and friends to comply strictly with Covid-19 guidelines.
Also, those who may wish to offer tributes to or share stories about her life, should kindly do so here.
Best wishes all.
Signed: Professor Mobolaji E. Aluko
On behalf of the Family
March 12, 2021