The Imo State University, in partnership with the Imo Robotic Centre, has established a robotic surgery academy aimed at training at least 500 surgeons and other surgical professionals from Nigeria and across Africa within two years.
The academy’s Clinical Lead, Professor Kingsley Ekwueme, disclosed this, describing the initiative as Africa’s first dedicated robotic surgery academy established within a university campus.
Ekwueme, a consultant urologist and robotic surgeon, said the partnership was formalised in August 2026 following a meeting between the university and its partners, which resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and the allocation of a building for the academy.
He explained that the initiative was designed to build local expertise in robotic-assisted surgery, strengthen surgical teams and expand access to advanced medical procedures without requiring patients to travel abroad for treatment.
According to him, the academy plans to train 500 robotic surgeons and other members of surgical teams over the next two years, with more than 250 Nigerian surgeons expected to benefit from the programme.
Ekwueme, who was recently appointed Professor of Robotic Surgery at Imo State University, said the training would extend beyond urology to other specialities, including gynaecology and bowel surgery. He added that the programme would feature international faculty members and receive certification from the university.
He stressed that the training would cover entire surgical teams, rather than surgeons alone, to ensure that participating hospitals could safely and effectively perform robotic-assisted procedures.
The professor also disclosed that the Imo Robotic Centre, established in partnership with the Imo State Government under Governor Hope Uzodimma, had successfully performed several procedures since carrying out the first robotic surgery in the region in August 2026.
He said the facility was already providing patients in the South-East with access to advanced surgical technology, reducing the need to seek similar treatment outside the country.
Ekwueme further revealed that plans were underway to establish an oncology centre close to the robotic facility to provide specialised cancer diagnosis and treatment services.
Explaining the benefits of robotic surgery, the urologist said the technology could result in smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery compared with conventional open surgery.
However, he emphasised that achieving these benefits depended on the surgeon’s proficiency in operating the robotic system, making specialised training essential.
He noted that robotic-assisted procedures could be used in several specialities, including kidney, bladder, prostate and ureter surgeries, as well as fibroid removal, hysterectomy, ovarian procedures, bowel cancer operations and gallbladder surgery.
The surgeon said expanding robotic surgery services in Nigeria could also help reduce medical tourism by allowing patients to access complex procedures locally, thereby reducing the financial and emotional pressures associated with travelling abroad for healthcare.
He, however, called on the Federal and state governments to support the acquisition of robotic surgical systems by addressing the high costs of importing the equipment, including taxes and other associated charges.
Ekwueme also encouraged public health institutions interested in adopting the technology to partner with the Imo Robotic Centre for specialised training and assistance in acquiring robotic systems.
Looking ahead, he expressed optimism that robotic surgery would become accessible in hospitals across Nigeria within the next decade, adding that increased investment in advanced medical technology could help reduce the migration of skilled Nigerian medical professionals.
He further disclosed that his experience in the field included developing robotic surgery services in the United Kingdom and contributing to the advancement of robotic procedures in Nigeria and the wider West and Central African region.
According to him, his team has performed more than 145 robotic procedures through a programme he developed, which he described as one of the highest volumes recorded by a comparable programme in Africa.
