In a groundbreaking achievement, the Redeemer's Health Village (RHV) in collaboration with RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital, has successfully performed Nigeria's first tele-robotic surgery. The procedure, a telesurgery-assisted, robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy, was conducted in real-time on Saturday to remove a kidney affected by a cancerous tumor. This innovative technique enables a surgeon to operate on a patient from a different physical location, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria's medical field.
The surgery was led by Professor Obi Ekwenna-Davis, a urology and transplantation expert, who described the patient's medical condition and highlighted the significance of the procedure. He emphasized that telesurgery can be safely performed on patients in different parts of Nigeria and the world, bridging geographical gaps in healthcare access. The patient was reported to be in good condition and expected to be discharged within 24 hours.
The procedure lasted approximately three hours, with brief stoppages to ensure the equipment and systems functioned properly. Professor Ekwenna-Davis, co-founder of RoboMed Global, expressed his excitement about the achievement, stating that distance should never determine access to safe surgery. He also mentioned plans to establish a robotic academy to train surgeons and medical professionals, aiming to train at least 150 surgeons within the next two years.
Adedamola Dada, CEO of RHV, highlighted that this achievement marks the first telesurgery in West Africa, demonstrating Nigerians' access to modern healthcare without traveling abroad. He emphasized that the initiative is not primarily profit-driven but aims to provide world-class healthcare services at affordable costs. RHV, established by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, is a 300-bed multispecialty hospital that seeks to promote innovation and reduce medical tourism.
The collaboration between RHV, RoboMed Global, and Nisa Premier Hospital is significant, as it marks the first time two hospitals in different parts of Nigeria have successfully collaborated to provide surgical care to a patient. Ibrahim Wada, CEO of Nisa Premier Hospital, noted that the facility has been a center for robotic surgery in West Africa since November 2025, and this achievement showcases the possibilities of Nigerian institutions working together.
To address potential connectivity challenges, measures have been put in place, including the use of reliable networks. However, factors such as weather conditions, equipment quality, and skilled personnel availability are critical to the success of telesurgery. The hospital plans to establish a robotic academy in collaboration with RoboMed Global to train doctors, surgeons, nurses, biomedical engineers, and product specialists.
The achievement has garnered support from the Minister of Health and other government institutions, with calls for additional support from private and non-governmental organizations. The CEO of RHV urged the government to support and sponsor medical professionals interested in acquiring robotic surgery skills, suggesting that scholarships could be awarded to enable them to undergo training.
Key points
- Nigeria's first tele-robotic surgery was performed by Redeemer's Health Village, RoboMed Global, and Nisa Premier Hospital.
- The procedure was a telesurgery-assisted, robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy to remove a kidney affected by a cancerous tumor.
- A robotic academy will be established to train at least 150 surgeons within the next two years.
