On September 19, 2026, a team led by Professor Obi Davies-Ekwenna successfully performed Nigeria's first tele-robotic surgery, a remarkable operation that connected two Nigerian cities through technology. Davies-Ekwenna, sitting at a Toumai robotic surgical console at Redeemer's Health Village in Mowe, Ogun State, remotely performed a robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy on a patient at Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja, about 500 kilometres away. The operation removed a cancerous tumour affecting the patient's kidney, with the surgeon's movements transmitted in real-time to the robotic system in Abuja.
The successful operation was made possible by the collaboration of highly trained professionals, properly equipped hospitals, sophisticated surgical robots, and reliable communications connections between Ogun and Abuja. The team involved in the operation demonstrated exceptional expertise, and the institutions provided the necessary support and equipment. This achievement marks a significant milestone in Nigeria's medical technology, with reports describing it as the country's first tele-robotic surgery and the first such procedure in West Africa.
Professor Davies-Ekwenna's story is particularly noteworthy, given his background. Born in Detroit, he grew up in Imo State, Nigeria, before returning to the United States in 1995 as a teenager. His international experience and expertise have now been brought back to Nigeria, where he is making a significant impact in the medical field. Davies-Ekwenna's achievement serves as an inspiration to Nigerian professionals in various fields, demonstrating that they can make a difference in their home country.
However, this achievement also raises questions about Nigeria's ability to provide an environment that supports the work of its highly skilled professionals. Many Nigerian doctors, engineers, scientists, and academics leave the country to work in countries with better-equipped laboratories, universities, and hospitals. The medical brain drain in Nigeria is a significant concern, with a 2026 review in Human Resources for Health identifying chronic underfunding and insecurity as drivers of physician migration.
The loss of doctors and other skilled professionals has a significant impact on Nigeria's healthcare system, with a 2026 study finding that emigration reduces workforce strength, increases workloads for those who remain, and weakens access to quality healthcare. The World Health Organization's African Health Observatory also identifies poor remuneration, working conditions, uneven distribution of health workers, and weak strategic coordination as major challenges for Nigeria's health workforce.
Professor Davies-Ekwenna's story offers a different possibility, one where Nigerian professionals can operate at an advanced level and bring their expertise back to Nigeria. His achievement demonstrates that, with the right environment and support, Nigerian professionals can make a significant impact in their fields. Nigeria should be finding more ways to turn the expertise of its diaspora into opportunities for people at home, rather than relying on their patriotism and generosity.
Ultimately, the goal should be to create a Nigeria where brilliant surgeons like Professor Davies-Ekwenna can operate in a supportive environment, with access to modern facilities, reliable electricity, and telecommunications. The Nigerian Constitution emphasizes the importance of government providing security, healthcare, education, and infrastructure, and it is essential that the government prioritizes these responsibilities rather than relying on private contributions and generosity.
Key points
- Nigerian surgeon performs country's first tele-robotic surgery
- Medical brain drain a significant concern in Nigeria
- Nigeria needs to create an environment that supports its highly skilled professionals
