Yemisi Suswan - The Angel among the People of Benue

Founder and Initiator

Her Excellency, Arc. Mrs. Dooshima Yemisi Suswam was born into a Christian family of Chief Ayo Balogun of Emure, Ekiti State and Chief Mrs. Hannah Balogun (Nee Haliru Kaiama)

She attended her primary education at St. Claire’s Nursery and Primary School, Oshogbo, Osun State between 1972 – 1979. She was appointed a Prefect in primary three and school head girl in primary five.

Between 1979 – 1985, she attended Federal Government Girls College Oyo. A multi-talented athlete, she was made the School Sports Prefect.

Her Excellency was admitted into Federal University of Technology, Minna to read Architecture. She bagged B.Tech Architecture in 1992 and M.Tech Architecture in 1993. She did her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Abuja in 1994.

Arc. Mrs. Suswam has distinguished herself in the building profession. She established All Purpose Shelters Ltd. (APSL), a building development company in 1995. Since the operation of APSL, a lot of building structures are standing to the credit of the company within and outside the Federal Capital Territory.

She is very hard-working and committed to leaving a legacy as the Managing Director of APSL. Amongst her numerous works are the Wuye Ultra Modern Market, Abuja, and the International Multi-Purpose Conference Centre, Lugbe, Abuja to mention just a few.

Arc. Mrs. Suswam is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of All Purpose Litz Ltd. She also presides over a number of corporate interests. In all her endeavours, Mrs. Suswam has enjoyed tremendous success; due to her hard work and continuous strive for excellence.

Arc. Dooshima Suswam is unarguably a philanthropist of note. She has over the years proved through her actions to be a mother of the motherless; a friend of the underprivileged and a great humanitarian.

• She has been a regular visitor at Orphanage Homes such as NKST Orphanage, Mkar, Benue State; Mama Abayol’s Orphanage Home, Makurdi and Catholic Home Gwagwalada, Abuja where she donates money, foodstuff, clothing and other materials in addition to moral encouragement and support.
• She donated blocks of toilers and bathrooms at the NKST Orphanage Mkar, to improve the living standard of the Orphans.
• She donated a motorized borehole and standby generator to Mama Abayol Orphanage, Makurdi.
• She sponsors a good number of Benue undergraduates’ students in partnership with her husband, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Suswam.
• Paid fines on behalf of fifteen (15) prison inmates at Makurdi Medium Prison, who could not afford to pay their fines to secure freedom.

Her Excellency, Arc. Dooshima Suswam is the unseen hand behind her very successful husband – His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Suswam, the Executive Governor of Benue State – from when he was a Member of the House Representatives in Abuja. She supported her husband in no small measure. Considering how dear she holds the entire people of Benue State, she founded SEV-AV FOUNDATION, a multi-functional Foundation which aims at empowering the women and youth of Benue State.

Arc. Mrs. Dooshima Suswam mobilizes and promotes Women Trade Groups and other Associations in the State. She has shown profound interest in women development and empowerment through yearly facilitation of huge consignments of fertilizer to Benue women to boost food production and donation of foodstuffs and wrappers to Benue women, especially the widows.

In 2009, she organized Widows Empowerment Workshop, where over 2,300 widows from the 23 Local Government Areas of the State were trained in soap and cream making.

She also organizes prayer sessions, crusades and fellowship on a regular basis for women in Benue state.

Her Excellency, Arc. Mrs. Suswam regularly takes time off busy schedule to organize and also participate in sporting events and other recreational activities:

• In 2002, she sponsored a football match at Chief Akume Atongo Stadium in Katsina-Ala, Benue State.
• In 2006, she sponsored the maiden edition of “Arc. Dooshima Suswam Basketball Fiesta” at Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.
• In 2008, she sponsored the second edition of “Arc. Dooshima Suswam Basketball Fiesta” at Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.
• In 2009, she organized the first Benue Fashion Show, which exposed potential models and fashion designers to the International community.
• She organizes picnics on a regular basis to help children and youth interact during holidays and festive periods.
• A Matron of Katsina-Ala Boys Brigade.
• She is also a Mother and Counsellor to youth in general.

As an accomplished professional and lover of humanity, Her Excellency, Arc. Mrs. Suswam has won several Laurels and Awards. Some of her awards include:

• The woman of Merit Award – given by the National Council for Women Society (NCWS) in Abuja.
• Zonal Matron Merit Award – award by Boys Scout of Nigeria, Benue Zone-One Scout Council
• Merit Award – given by Women Consultative Caucus.
• Queen of the Heart – Award for Best Pet Project in Northern Nigeria, in recognition of Her Excellency’s laudable achievements through her pet project Sev-Av Foundation – Given by African Independent Television (AIT) in conjunction with Project for Excellence.
• EMRC Leadership Award 2008 – Given by the European Marketing Research Centre (EMRC) in Paris, France.
• In 2009, she participated in a Leadership Training Programme – Women and Power: Leadership in a New World. Organized by Harvard University, Cambridge, Boston, USA.
• Currently, she is the Vice Chairperson, Nineteen (19) Northern Governor’s Wives Forum.

MarriageArc. Mrs. Dooshima Yemisi Suswam is happily married to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Gabriel Torwua Suswam with children.