US-based Nigerian neurosurgeon Dr. Olawale Sulaiman accepted a pay cut to spend time in Nigeria performing free brain and spine surgeries and plans to expand neurological care infrastructure in the country.
Dr. Olawale Sulaiman, a Nigerian-born neurosurgeon working in the United States, has committed to returning frequently to his home country to perform free brain and spine surgeries for underprivileged patients.
Despite holding a prestigious position in the U.S., he negotiated a 25 % pay cut so he could take longer leave and devote up to 12 days monthly in Nigeria. During these visits, he offers critical care often at no cost.
Born into a large family on Lagos Island, he lived in challenging conditions as a child. “I am one of 10 children born into a polygamous family. My siblings and I shared one room … sleeping on a mat on the floor,” he told CNN. His opportunity came through a Nigerian government scholarship to study medicine in Bulgaria, which he said “opened many doors.”
Through RNZ Global and its foundation arm, the Sulaimans have treated over 500 patients and offered free neurological surgeries to many more via outreach efforts. Looking ahead, Dr. Sulaiman hopes to establish multiple neuroscience centres across Nigeria to strengthen local healthcare capacity.