US-Based Nigerian Neurosurgeon Performs Free Brain, Spine Surgeries in Nigeria

A United States–based Nigerian neurosurgeon, Dr. Olawale Sulaiman, has continued to inspire many through his extraordinary commitment to giving back to his home country by performing free brain and spinal surgeries for underprivileged Nigerians.

At 49, Dr. Sulaiman serves as a professor of neurosurgery and spinal surgery, and chairman of the neurosurgery department and back and spine center at the Ochsner Neuroscience Institute in New Orleans, Louisiana. Despite holding one of the most prestigious medical positions in the U.S., he routinely travels to Nigeria to offer specialized healthcare services, often at no cost.

Born on Lagos Island into a large polygamous family, Sulaiman’s early life was defined by hardship and determination. “I am one of 10 children born into a polygamous family. My siblings and I shared one room where we often found ourselves sleeping on a mat on the floor,” he recalled in an interview with CNN.

His breakthrough came at age 19, when he earned a Nigerian government scholarship through the Bureau for External Aid to study medicine in Bulgaria, an opportunity that, he said, “opened many doors” and shaped his lifelong mission to serve humanity.

“Africans who have had the privilege of getting outstanding training and education abroad must mobilize their network of influence to transform our continent,” he said.

To pursue this vision, Dr. Sulaiman and his wife, Patricia Sulaiman, a nurse, founded RNZ Global in 2010,  a healthcare development company providing neurosurgical and spinal procedures as well as first aid and CPR training in both Nigeria and the United States.

In 2019, they established the RNZ Foundation, a non-profit arm that offers free neurological treatment and surgeries to low-income patients in Nigeria. Through both organizations, Sulaiman and his team have treated over 500 patients and provided preventive medical care to more than 5,000 people across both countries.

To make his humanitarian mission possible, he negotiated a 25% pay cut with his American employer in exchange for extended vacation periods to enable his regular trips to Nigeria.

Dr. Sulaiman’s outreach has touched countless lives. In 2013, he partnered with fellow neurosurgeon Dr. Yusuf Salman and faith-based group MPAC to conduct free spinal surgeries in Kwara State, using implants and surgical equipment shipped from the U.S.

“He came with implants and equipment from the U.S. so we could operate for free on people with spine-related problems,” Dr. Salman said. “Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about minimally invasive spine surgery from working closely with him.”

One of his patients, Philomena Arah, who had suffered chronic back pain for over 15 years, described the surgery as “life-changing.”
“Walking was unbearable. The pain stopped me from socializing or exercising,” she said. “The surgery gave me my life back, and at a much lower cost than in the U.S.”

RNZ Global’s patient care coordinator, Blessing Holison, noted that the foundation’s mission is to assist those who cannot afford specialized medical care. “We offer free services and surgery for those that are less privileged,” she said.

Looking to the future, Dr. Sulaiman plans to establish at least four neuroscience centers across Nigeria to strengthen the country’s healthcare infrastructure and build local capacity in advanced neurological care.

“Happiness doesn’t come from what you get, but from what you give,” he said. “There is always room to give — you don’t need to be a millionaire to give.”

PUNCH