Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has appointed US-based renowned professor of neurosurgery and neurosciences Wale Sulaiman as Special Adviser on Health Matters.

“As part of his clear-eyed efforts to revamp every sector of the state, Governor AbdulRazaq is glad to bring Professor Sulaiman on board as a leading member of his team. He is confident that the famous Professor will bring his wealth of experience to bear in the delivery of affordable, innovative and qualitative healthcare to the people of Kwara,” according to a statement on Monday by the governor’s spokesman, Rafiu Ajakaye.

“The appointment is based on the excellent report of his vast experience in health matters both locally and internationally, and dedication to the noble ideals of this administration.”

The statement said Prof. Sulaiman, until his appointment the CEO and Chairman of a healthcare development company RNZ Global Ltd., is an expert in transformational changes in the design, delivery, access, safety and quality of healthcare utilising modern technology.

The appointee is also a Professor of Neurosurgery at Tulane University and up until January 2019 was System Chairman of Neurosurgery and Co-Medical Director of a Neuroscience Institute with Ochsner Health System in New Orleans, USA. He is a Pioneer Neurosurgeon in minimally invasive spine surgery under the RNZ Back and Spine Center of Africa. He was also reputed to have performed the first minimally invasive spine surgery in Sub-Sahara Africa.

A member of several neurosurgery bodies and a visiting Professor to many universities in the United States, Canada and Nigeria, among others, Prof. Sulaiman is also known for his commitment to give back to his home country Nigeria and Sub-Saharan African countries.

Meanwhile, Governor AbdulRazaq on Sunday departed Nigeria for Japan to attend the 7th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7).

AbdulRazaq would be attending the conference alongside two other state governors who are in the entourage of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The event will afford the Governor the opportunity to discuss business and investment opportunities in Kwara State with top global players,” according to another statement by Ajakaye.

The conference, which is themed ‘Africa and Yokohama, Sharing Passion for the Future’, will hold in Yokohama city from August 28 to 30, the statement said.

AbdulRazaq will join Buhari on the third Plenary Session of the conference, where the President will give a keynote speech on Nigeria-Japan relations and takeaways from TICAD6, among other events in their itineraries.

Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, will declare the sessions of the conference open.