Why a Top Neurosurgeon Gave Up Part of His Salary to Perform 500+ Free Surgeries for People in Nigeria Who Couldn’t Afford Care
Sometimes a story comes along that completely shifts the way you look at success. In a world where climbing the ladder and chasing bigger paychecks often seems like the default path, Dr. Olawale Sulaiman quietly took a different route—one paved with purpose, not profit.
Dr. Sulaiman is a highly skilled neurosurgeon based in Louisiana. On paper, he had it all. A prestigious position at Ochsner Health, a thriving medical career in the U.S., and everything that years of hard work and top-tier training could bring. But something kept tugging at him—something deeper than accolades and income.
You see, Dr. Sulaiman was born in Nigeria. He knew what it felt like to grow up in a country where access to healthcare was limited, especially for those without money. He remembered the struggles, the gaps in care, and the dreams of becoming someone who could make a difference.
So he made a bold decision: he took a 25% pay cut from his job in Louisiana. Not because he was forced to, but because he wanted to create time—up to 12 days a month—to travel back to Nigeria and offer free brain and spinal surgeries to those who needed them most.
In a system where specialists can charge thousands for a single surgery, Dr. Sulaiman chose to give it all away—for free.
Dr. Sulaiman didn’t just show up with a scalpel. He came with a vision. Through his nonprofit RNZ Global, he’s built a network dedicated to providing not only surgeries but full-scale medical care. To date, he’s performed over 500 complex surgeries and impacted more than 5,000 lives through consultations, screenings, and preventive care efforts.
But that’s not even the full story.
He also brings in medical supplies from the United States—equipment and tools that many hospitals in Nigeria couldn’t afford or access. He trains local doctors so they can continue the work even when he returns to the U.S. He mentors, empowers, and educates, not just to heal individuals, but to strengthen the entire healthcare system from the inside out.
What’s especially moving is how personal it all feels. Dr. Sulaiman speaks of his mission with humility, not as a grand gesture, but as something natural. In interviews, he’s explained that people who’ve had the privilege of world-class education and experience have a responsibility to give back.
“It’s a moral obligation,” he once said. “When you are trained in a system that gave you so much, you have to use that knowledge to serve those who didn’t have the same opportunity.”
Social media erupted with praise when his story came out. Thousands shared posts with comments like, “This is what a real hero looks like,” and “We need more people like this in the world.” Nigerian families touched by his work expressed gratitude not just for the surgeries, but for the respect and kindness he brought with him.
Because here’s the thing: Dr. Sulaiman doesn’t swoop in as a distant outsider. He connects deeply. He speaks the language, understands the culture, and treats each patient not as a number, but as a human being worthy of dignity and care.
One particularly touching account involved a young boy with a severe spinal deformity. His family couldn’t dream of affording surgery. But Dr. Sulaiman stepped in. Not only did he perform the operation free of charge, but he also ensured the boy had a long-term plan for rehabilitation and follow-up care. Today, that child can walk again—and dream again.
For Dr. Sulaiman, the work is far from over. He’s planning to expand RNZ Global’s reach, bring more doctors into the fold, and create stronger partnerships between African and Western healthcare systems. His hope? That one day, Nigerian patients won’t have to wait for help from abroad—they’ll have world-class care at home.
That vision is already taking shape. With every surgery he performs, every young doctor he trains, and every piece of equipment he donates, Dr. Sulaiman is building a bridge between what is and what could be.
He could have stayed in the U.S., enjoying a high-paying job and a quiet, comfortable life. Instead, he chose a life of meaning over money.
And in doing so, he’s become not just a healer of the body—but a restorer of faith.