The Imo Specialist Hospital in Owerri is set to perform its first robotic-assisted surgery on Friday, August 21, with Governor Hope Uzodimma expected to witness the procedure as the state launches what it describes as a major step towards advanced healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The surgery, scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Imo Robotics and Oncology Centre (IROC), located within the Imo Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, Owerri West Local Government Area, will be led by Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme, a Consultant Robotic and Laparoscopic Surgeon and Lead Urological Surgeon at Glan Clwyd Hospital, United Kingdom.
Ekwueme, a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (FRCS) and founder of The Prostate Clinic, is recognised for his work in robotic and minimally invasive surgery.
The development is part of the Uzodimma administration’s efforts to expand access to specialised medical services and reduce the need for Nigerians to travel abroad for procedures that require advanced medical technology.
The Imo government said the IROC was conceived as a major healthcare infrastructure project aimed at positioning the state as a destination for advanced medical care and innovation.
The Centre houses robotic surgical capabilities and oncology services, with the government expecting the facility to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to diagnose and treat cancer, urological conditions and other complex diseases.
The planned procedure is also expected to mark the operational commencement of robotic-assisted surgical services at the Centre, moving the IROC beyond an infrastructure project into a specialised medical institution.
Governor Uzodimma is scheduled to attend the procedure as part of his administration’s push to modernise healthcare infrastructure and deploy advanced medical technologies in the state.
The state government said the initiative aligns with the governor’s 3R Agenda of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery, particularly its focus on revitalising healthcare infrastructure, expanding specialist services and improving access to quality medical care.
Robotic-assisted surgery uses sophisticated robotic systems controlled by specially trained surgeons and can offer greater precision, enhanced visualisation and improved dexterity during complex procedures. Depending on the patient’s condition and the procedure involved, it may also result in smaller incisions, reduced blood loss and shorter recovery periods.
The government said the initiative could help retain more healthcare expenditure within Nigeria while strengthening specialist training, local expertise and international medical collaborations.
It also described the development as part of efforts to reduce medical tourism and expand Nigeria’s capacity to provide sophisticated healthcare services locally.
According to the statement signed by Oguwike Nwachuku, Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, doctors and nurses at the IROC expressed optimism during Governor Uzodimma’s inspection of the facility on Wednesday ahead of Friday’s procedure.