Grace Oyelude

Oyelude was born in Kano to James Adeleye Olude and Marthan Dantu of Isanlu from Kogi State, and was raised in Northern Nigeria. She had her primary and secondary education between 1940 and 1952 in Kano.

Miss Nigeria commenced in 1957 as a photo contest. Contestants posted photographs of themselves to the Daily Times headquarters in Lagos where finalists were shortlisted. Successful finalists were afterwards invited to compete in the live final at the Lagos Island Club. At that time, the Miss Nigeria contest did not include a swimsuit competition. Oyelude was working at UAC when she represented the then Northern region. After winning the contest, she travelled to England where she studied Nursing. Within months of gaining admission to the School of Nursing in Ashford, she was crowned Miss Nigeria.

Oyelude became a State Registered Nurse in 1961 and became qualified as a state registered midwife SCM (NRM) in 1962 after training at St. Thomas' Hospital, London.[5] She moved on to the Royal College of Nursing, England in 1971[6] and obtained a diploma in Nursing and Hospital administration (DNHA). At the Ghana Institute of Management and Personnel Administration, she completed studies for another diploma.

In the United Kingdom, Oyelude worked in several hospitals including Paddington General Hospital, one of the former local hospitals of St Mary's Hospital, London. After returning to Nigeria, she worked in Kaduna General Hospital between 1964 and 1965. She worked as a senior nursing sister-in-charge of the former Kaduna Nursing home (now Barau Dike specialist hospital, Kaduna) from 1965-1977. When the Nigerian Civil War started in 1967, she moved to Markurdi General Hospital. Oyelude led a team from the Northern region; the group that helped hospitals get ready to treat casualties of war. In the early 1970s she worked as a senior matron and director of nursing services at the Ahmadu Bello University’s teaching hospital, after joining the Institute of Health, Ahmadu Bello University. She voluntarily retired from that post in 1985. She was also an external examiner of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. She chaired the Kwara State Health Management Board from 1980 to 1983.[7]

Oyelude holds the chieftaincy titles Iyaolu of Isaluland and Iyalode of Okunland. She has many grandchildren.[6]

• Miss Nigeria