FG appoints Governing Council for FUHSI

Professor Olawale Abdul-Rafiu Adeniyi Sulaiman MD, PhD., FRCS(C), CON (popularly known as Professor Wale Sulaiman) is a Canadian and American-trained neurosurgeon, academician and physician Executive from Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun LGA, Kwara State, Nigeria. He was identified early in his career as an outstanding Neurosurgeon, Researcher, Innovator, Leader, and Skilled Physician Executive. He designed, established, and managed one of the most comprehensive multi-disciplinary spine centers, neurosurgery and neuroscience programs in the USA. In less than 5 years, under the leadership of Prof. Sulaiman, the programs became recognized by US News and World Report as one of the best 25 Neuroscience programs in the country and comprised of a team of over 250 physicians and allied healthcare providers across Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. The annual revenue generated also grew to more than 500 million dollars annually.

Prof. Sulaiman attended secondary school at the prestigious St. Gregory’s College, Lagos where he graduated with distinctions. He secured an academic scholarship through the Bureau for External Aid, a Nigerian government program that offers scholarships to exceptional Nigerian students to study Medicine abroad. He completed his medical degree at the Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria during which he also completed an MSc. degree. His brilliance and academic excellence took him to Canada where he also won Canadian government scholarships for his post-graduate PhD. degree in Neurosciences at the University of Alberta and training scholarships for his Neurosurgery residency which he completed with a board certification by The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He then secured two additional Fellowship awards for sub-specialty training in the USA in complex spine surgery and nerve reconstruction surgery.

Prof. Sulaiman is recognized as one of the best Neurosurgeons and Spine Surgeons in the world, skilled in the application of minimally invasive techniques to treat spine disorders and is one of only a handful of Neurosurgeons with an expertise in nerve repair surgeries and microsurgical resection of nerve tumors. In addition to his clinical expertise, Prof. Sulaiman is a Neuroscientist with extensive research experience in both nerve and spinal cord injury and regeneration and has authored several peer-reviewed publications and book chapters in these areas. He is an Ad-hoc Reviewer for many neurosurgery and neuroscience journals. He was recently appointed as a member of the International Advisory Board of the most prestigious Neurosurgery journal, NEUROSURGERY. Prof. Sulaiman is also a graduate of Ochsner Leadership Institute in the USA having completed a 1-year program in healthcare leadership, operations and governance.

Prof. Sulaiman held many leadership positions during his neurosurgery career in the USA at Ochsner Health System and Tulane University including Medical Director of the Back & Spine Center, System Chairman of the Department of Neurosurgery, Co-Medical Director of the Neuroscience Institute, Medical Director of the Laboratory of Neural Injury and Regeneration, Chairman of the Institutional Research Council and a member of the CEO advisory council. He rose to the rank of Professor of clinical neurosurgery at Tulane university.

Prof. Sulaiman used his various leadership positions to support the development of healthcare in Nigeria. With his position in the USA, he has trained hundreds of medical students, resident Doctors and Fellows as well as facilitated the training of Nigerian Doctors at his hospital by providing scholarships. Furthermore, he has facilitated the involvement of prominent American healthcare companies in Nigeria by providing hands-on training and education to Neurosurgeons, Orthopedic Surgeons, and Resident Doctors. He has also been involved in countless medical missions where thousands of Nigerians have benefitted from free medical and surgical care.

After over a decade of outstanding contributions to American healthcare leadership, neuroscience research and clinical neurosurgery, Prof. Sulaiman decided to explore how he could utilize his skills gained abroad to advance healthcare at home in Nigeria. He and his wife, Mrs. Patricia Sulaiman (an accomplished Nurse with a master’s degree in public health, and a graduate of Cornell University’s training in healthcare leadership and management), established RNZ Global Ltd. RNZ Global is a Nigerian company focused on hospital development, management and operations in Sub-Saharan African countries. The company is a pioneer in lean, efficient, safe, cost-effective, high quality and innovative healthcare solutions including modern clinics, virtual and digital healthcare solutions. RNZ Global managed the Shell Oil 65-bed specialist hospital in Port Harcourt for 6 years with Prof Sulaiman as the Chief Medical Director & CEO.

Prof. Sulaiman has received many national and international awards in recognition of his professional accomplishments and philanthropic efforts. Most prestigious amongst them is his conferment with one of the highest National Honors in Nigeria in the rank of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for his professional accomplishments, patriotism, and humanitarian services both in Nigeria and abroad.

Prof. Sulaiman has been with his lovely wife Patricia Chioma Sulaiman for over 25 years, and they are blessed with 3 marvellous children Rahim, Zaynab, and Najeeb.