Nigeria has entered the medical history books with the successful completion of West Africa’s first tele-robotic surgery, a groundbreaking procedure carried out on Saturday through a collaboration between Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV), RoboMed Global, and Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja.
The landmark operation—a robot-assisted radical nephrectomy to remove a cancerous kidney—was performed remotely from a Toumai robotic surgery console at RHV on a patient located at Nisa Premier Hospital. The procedure lasted three hours and was led by Prof. Obi Ekwenna-Davis, Professor of Urology and Transplantation and Co-Founder of RoboMed Global.
Speaking after the surgery, Ekwenna-Davis emphasized the significance of the achievement: “Distance should never decide who receives safe surgery; this is what safe and trusted surgery looks like.” He confirmed that the patient was in good condition and expected to be discharged within 24 hours.
The operation marked the first successful collaboration between two hospitals in different parts of Nigeria to deliver surgical care via telesurgery. Plans are underway to establish a Robotic Academy to train at least 150 surgeons within two years, ensuring the sustainability of this innovation.
Dr. Adedamola Dada, CEO of RHV, described the procedure as a demonstration that Nigerians can now access modern healthcare without travelling abroad. He stressed that robotic surgery would help reduce medical tourism by making complex procedures available locally.
Dr. Ibrahim Wada, CEO and Founder of Nisa Premier Hospital, hailed the collaboration as proof of what Nigerian institutions can achieve when they work together. RHV Board Chairman, Dr. Kunle Onakoya, called the procedure “historic,” urging stakeholders to recognize their role in advancing healthcare innovation.
Redeemer’s Health Village, a faith-based 300-bed multispecialty hospital established by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, has now positioned Nigeria as a pioneer in robotic surgery within West Africa.
