Nigeria’s First Female Meteorologist, Dr (Mrs) Oreoluwa Salau Passes On

Dr (Mrs) Oreoluwa Salau, Nigeria’s first female meteorologist and a respected academic whose works in climatology and agro-climatology blazed a trail for women in science has died.

Her daughter, Dr Adetola Ariyike Salau, the Special Adviser on STEMM Education and Corporate Sector Engagement to the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, CON, announced her passing on behalf of the family earlier today through her social media accounts.

In a statement signed by Dr Adetola Salau alongside her siblings, Adeyemi Salau and Adebisi Salau, the family described their late mother as a remarkable woman who combined excellence in academia with deep compassion and resilience.

“Our beloved mother, Dr (Mrs) Oreoluwa Salau, Nigeria’s first female meteorologist, an outstanding scholar, and an inspiring mother to us all, has passed on. While we mourn deeply, we also celebrate her remarkable legacy, her unwavering faith, and the countless lives she touched through her work and compassion. We kindly ask for your prayers and support for our family during this period of grief,” the family statement read.

Dr (Mrs) Salau carved a niche for herself in a male-dominated field at a time when few women dared to venture into meteorology.

Beyond being a trailblazer, she authored groundbreaking research in environmental and agricultural sciences, taught at leading Nigerian universities, and held fellowships with prestigious global scientific bodies.

Tributes have begun to pour in from colleagues, former students, and admirers across Nigeria and beyond, hailing her as a beacon of knowledge and an enduring symbol of women’s capacity to break barriers in science and education.

Funeral arrangements, according to the family, will be announced in due course.