Eka Esu Williams

Ekanem Esu Williams (born 1950) is a Nigerian-born immunologist and a reproductive health and rights activist.

Life and work Born in northern Nigeria, Williams was the third of eight children. She received her first degree from the University of Nigeria in 1975, then graduated from University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. In 1985, she returned to Nigeria to take a post at the University of Calabar; two years later, she was passed over for promotion, because it was felt that she already had more than a woman could expect.

She served as a research associate at the Population Council in Washington, DC, and Johannesburg, from 1998 to 2007.

Selected works

Esu-Williams, E., Mulanga-Kabeya, C., Takena, H., Zwandor, A., Aminu, K., Adamu, I.... & Delaporte, E. (1997). "Seroprevalence of HIV-1, HIV-2, and HIV-1 group O in Nigeria: evidence for a growing increase of HIV infection". Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 16(3), 204–210. Jubier-Maurin, V., Saragosti, S., Perret, J. L., Mpoudi, E., Esu-Williams, E., Mulanga, C.... & Peeters, M. (1999). "Genetic characterization of the nef gene from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 group M strains representing genetic subtypes A, B, C, E, F, G, and H". AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, 15(1), 23–32. Esu-Williams, E. (2000). "Gender and HIV/AIDS in Africa− Our Hope Lies in the Future". Journal of Health Communication, 5(sup1), 123–126. Peeters, M., Esu-Williams, E., Vergne, L., Montavon, C., Mulanga-Kabeya, C., Harry, T.... & Delaporte, E. (2000). "Predominance of subtype A and G HIV type 1 in Nigeria, with geographical differences in their distribution". AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses, 16(4), 315–325. Geibel, S., Luchters, S., King'Ola, N., Esu-Williams, E., Rinyiru, A., & Tun, W. (2008). "Factors associated with self-reported unprotected anal sex among male sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya". Sexually transmitted diseases, 746–752.