Nigeria has performed its first tele-robotic surgery, enabling a remote surgeon to complete a robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy on a patient in Abuja to remove a kidney affected by a tumour.
The procedure was carried out in real time using a robotic surgical console, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a partner of TV BRICS.
The operation was led by Obi Ekwenna-Davis, professor of urology and transplantation. The procedure lasted around three hours and included brief pauses to check the equipment and systems. The patient was reported to be in good condition following the operation and was expected to leave the hospital within 24 hours.
The achievement demonstrated the potential of tele-robotic surgery to connect specialist medical expertise with patients in different parts of Nigeria and internationally. Adedamola Dada, a healthcare executive involved in the initiative, said the technology could enable patients to access advanced medical procedures without travelling abroad, while specialist skills could be transferred between healthcare centres.
The initiative also includes plans to establish a robotic surgery academy to train doctors, surgeons, nurses, biomedical engineers, and other specialists. According to experts, the programme aims to train at least 150 surgeons over the next two years, supporting the development of expertise in robotic surgery and telesurgery in Nigeria.
