Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV), a multispecialty hospital established by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), has launched a robotic surgery programme designed to expand access to advanced surgical care and train Nigerian medical professionals.
The hospital acquired two robotic surgical systems as part of the initiative, with one intended for clinical services and the other dedicated to training. The programme was launched on August 22, 2026, through a partnership between RHV and US-based RoboMed Global Inc.
RHV says the project is intended to build the local expertise needed to operate and sustain robotic-assisted surgery in Nigeria. The hospital is also establishing the RHV Robotic Academy to provide structured training for surgeons and other healthcare professionals.
Training Nigerian professionals is a major part of the project
According to RHV Chief Executive Officer Dr Adedamola Dada, the hospital invested about US$4 million in the robotic surgery initiative. He said the goal is to create a pipeline of Nigerian professionals who can perform robotic procedures, monitor patients and provide follow-up care locally.
The planned Robotic Academy will use a multi-stage training pathway that includes didactic lectures, dry laboratory training, wet laboratory work involving cadaver and animal models, human training, examination and credentialing.
The approach reflects one of the biggest challenges surrounding the adoption of robotic surgery: acquiring the equipment is only one part of building a functioning programme. At the launch, former Minister of State for Health Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora stressed the importance of trained surgeons, anaesthetists, theatre nurses, biomedical engineers, information technology specialists, maintenance support, quality assurance and clinical governance.
Services to cover several surgical specialties
RHV says its robotic surgery programme will support procedures across general surgery, urology and gynaecology. Robotic-assisted surgery allows surgeons to control specialised instruments through a robotic system, providing enhanced visualisation and precise instrument movement during minimally invasive procedures.
The technology is being promoted as part of a wider effort to increase access to complex surgical care within Nigeria. At the programme’s launch, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Dr Iziaq Salako said the initiative could strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to provide advanced and minimally invasive surgical care through locally trained professionals.
RHV joins Nigeria’s growing robotic surgery landscape
The development is significant, but it should not be described as the arrival of robotic surgery in Nigeria for the first time. The country had already recorded robotic-assisted procedures before RHV’s programme was launched.
In 2025, a robotic-assisted prostate cancer procedure was performed in Lagos, while the Toumai robotic surgical platform was subsequently deployed at NISA Premier Hospital in Abuja. NAFDAC had also approved the Toumai robotic surgical system for clinical use in Nigeria in December 2025.
RHV’s contribution therefore represents a new expansion of robotic surgery in Nigeria rather than the technology’s first appearance in the country. Its distinguishing feature is the decision to combine clinical robotic services with a dedicated training system intended to develop local capacity.
Beyond the operating room
RoboMed Global co-founder Prof. Obi Davies-Ekwenna said the partnership with RHV is aimed at keeping the technology, training and expertise within Africa rather than creating a system that depends permanently on foreign teams.
That focus could become particularly important as more Nigerian hospitals explore robotic-assisted procedures. For the technology to deliver lasting benefits, hospitals will need not only the surgical platforms themselves but also trained clinical teams, technical support, maintenance systems and appropriate regulatory and clinical oversight.
For RCCG and Redeemer’s Health Village, the new programme represents an attempt to combine advanced medical technology with local professional development. If the planned training pipeline succeeds, its impact could extend beyond the hospital itself by helping increase the number of Nigerian healthcare professionals equipped to work with robotic surgical systems.
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