Forty-year old Dr Salamat Ahuoiza Aliu is the first female neurosurgeon in Nigeria and West Africa.
Neurosurgeon are medical doctors who specialize in the treatment of any disorders of the congenital anomalies, tumors, trauma, infection of the brain or spine, vascular disorders, stroke or degenerative diseases of the spine, a very important and rear field in medical science.
Born in 1980 in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Dr. Aliu, who hails from Okene in Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State, had most of her education, up to the university level in the ancient city of Ilorin.
She had her first degree in medicine from the University of Ilorin, before becoming the first female to be certified a neurosurgeon in West Africa, after she was trained as a neurosurgeon in Usman Danfodiyo University Neurosurgery Centre, Sokoto, under Prof Chidinma Osuji.
Haring her experience as Nigeria and West Africa’s first female neurosurgeon, Aliu said she was spurred to study the rare medical profession because of its many intrigues.
She said, “Neurosurgery specializes in the treatment of neurological diseases. This means diseases of the brain and spinal cord, which often involves the use of surgical operation to treat such diseases, that area has always intrigued me.”
She presently works as the first female neurosurgeon at the National Hospital, Abuja.
In what has appeared to be a divine surprise, Dr. Salamat Aliu has three other siblings, all females, who are also medical doctors. They are: Halimat Aliyu, a plastic surgeon; Ramat Aliyu, an obstetrician and Medinah Aliyu, a gynecologist.
