In an extraordinary demonstration of patriotism and service, Professor Olawale Sulaiman, a globally respected neurosurgeon and medical scholar, has voluntarily taken a 25 percent pay cut from his position in Louisiana, USA, so he can return to Nigeria every month to provide free brain and spinal surgeries.
Despite holding a top-ranking role abroad, Professor Sulaiman has remained connected to his roots. Born and raised in Lagos, he has consistently emphasized his deep sense of duty to give back to his country. His return each month is not for leisure—but to stand in surgical theatres, offering life-saving procedures at no cost to patients who would otherwise never afford them.
With Nigeria grappling with a severe shortage of neurosurgeons, his presence offers more than just treatment. Professor Sulaiman also trains local doctors, donates vital medical equipment, and partners with institutions to strengthen Nigeria’s struggling healthcare system.
His work extends beyond medicine. Through his RNZ Foundation, co-founded with his wife, he has led several health outreach initiatives and community empowerment programs, particularly in Kwara South, his ancestral home. His efforts continue to bridge the healthcare gap between underserved communities and quality medical care.
At a time when brain drain is rampant in Nigeria’s medical sector, Professor Sulaiman’s consistent return, despite professional comforts abroad, sends a powerful message—one that reminds the nation that giving back is not a loss, but a legacy.
