Dr. Dooshima Yemisi Suswam was born on 30th April, 1967 into a Christian family of Chief Ayo Balogun of Emure, Ekiti State and Chief Mrs. Hannah Balogun (Nee Haliru Kaiama).

Her early education started at St. Claire’s Nursery and Primary School, Oshogbo, Osun State between 1972 –1979. It was at this stage that her innate leadership skills were discovered by her teachers, and she was made class prefect and Head girl in primary 3 and 5 respectively.

Between 1979 –1985, she attended Federal Government Girls College Oyo. Being a multi-talented athlete and an active participant in sporting activities in the school, She was made the School Sports Prefect in her final year.

For her tertiary education, She was admitted into the Federal University of Technology, Minna, where she studied Architecture. She graduated in 1992 with B.Tech Architecture and M.Tech Architecture in 1993.

Yemisi Suswam is a 2009 graduate of Harvard Kennedy School of Executive Education in Women and Power: Leadership in a new world.

In 2019, she became one of the highest-ranking architects in the country following her investiture as a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA).

Watch video of her investiture here

Owing to her years of experience, commitment to academic excellence, and advancement of knowledge in the architectural profession, she was awarded a Doctorate (Ph.D.) degree following the completion of her doctorate program in 2020 at the University of Jos, Nigeria.

She is married to the former Governor of Benue State Sen. Gabriel Suswam with children and is currently a minister of God in Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Abuja.

Dr. Yemisi Suswam at Work

As MD/CEO since the inception of APSL, the company has handled multiple dozens of world-class building projects in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja and across several other states in the country. Notable among her works are (See full portfolio):

Arc. Yemisi Suswam is a philanthropist with a passion for helping the less-privileged in the society. Her primary focus is on widows, orphans, and youth. Her unwavering support for the less-privileged is visible through her NGO, SEV-AV FOUNDATION, which has so far helped in lifting 10,000  thousand youths and widows out of poverty through regular training in various vocational skills (knitting, tailoring, beading, computer studies, etc.) and curbing the spread of HIV in the state. Her regular visits to motherless babies’ homes are a testament to her lifelong dedication to improving the lives of orphans.

Her time as first lady of Benue State (2007-2015) presented her a golden opportunity to touch the lives of people on a massive scale. This was manifested through pet projects such as; the Annual Celebrate the Benue Woman, Annual Youth Easter Picnic Festival, Monthly Breakfast Fellowship for Government Officials’ Wives, etc. which helped in improving the lives of thousands of less privileged persons and youths in the state. Her projects were so effective in their positive impacts on the lives of indigent people of Benue that she was awarded Most Valuable Governor’s Wife North Central Zone Of The Federal Republic Of Nigeria by Wives Of North Central Governors’ Forum in 2014.

Over the years, these selfless humanitarian gestures (both on personal and professional levels) have not gone unnoticed as Arc. (Dr.) Suswam has been awarded by more than 36 local and international organizations. Notable among these awards include; African Achiever Award for Women and Youth (Institute of Leadership and Management United Kingdom, 2013), Defender of the African Child (African Women in Leadership Summit And Awards, 2011), Award of Honor (Medical Women Association of Nigeria, 2015), Ambassador of Family Planning (United Nations Population Fund UNPF, 2013), Woman of Merit Gold Awards (People, State & Resources, 2006)  Most Supportive First Lady (Sun Awards, 2014), Best Pet Projects in Nigeria (Queen of the Hearts), Certificate of Recognition (Nigerian Institute of Building, 2010), amongst others.