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From George Onyejiuwa,Owerri
There was excitement and joy, penultimate Friday, as Imo State became the first state in Nigeria to successfully carry out a robotic assisted prostate cancer surgery, led by son of the soil, Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme, a United Kingdom-based consultant urologist and robotic surgeon, and his team of doctors and specialists from the United Kingdom, United States, and Belgium.
The historic medical breakthrough was performed at the newly established Robotic Surgery and Oncology Centre for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment, located within the Imo State Specialist Hospital, Umuguma, a private-public partnership between the state government and Prof. Ekwueme, the first of its kind in the South East. As a result of this medical breakthrough, Imo may soon become a hub for medical tourism.
Ekwueme, who led the team that performed the first successful robotic assisted prostate cancer surgery in the state, described the development as a major step towards bringing world class medical technology and specialised healthcare services closer to Nigerians, particularly residents of Imo State and the South East.
Ekwueme said he was attracted to the vision of the Imo State Government when he was approached to be part of the initiative.
He said the vision of the governor to transform healthcare facilities in the state to modern centres capable of delivering services comparable to what is obtainable in more advanced countries was a major factor that encouraged him to partner with the state government.
Ekwueme, who spoke with a group of journalists who witnessed the first robotic surgery in the state, expressed satisfaction with the successful outcome of the procedure, describing the operation as an important beginning for the centre and a demonstration of what the new technology can achieve in specialised medical care.
He further disclosed that the oncology centre would provide treatment for various forms of cancer affecting men, women and children, and emphasised that the services to be provided would be comprehensive and holistic.
Ekwueme pointed out that one of the major advantages of having the Robotic Surgery Centre and the Oncology Centre within the same facility was that patients would have access to a broad range of specialised services in one location.
He said while such facilities are sometimes located in different places in other parts of the world, the Imo State centre brings the services together in one location, thereby creating a more coordinated and convenient system of care for patients.
Said Ekwueme: “Today is a very special day. We have just finished our first surgical operation on a young man who was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and the operation was successful. He is a young man, and once he is fully recovered, he will return to his young wife and continue his responsibilities as a husband.”
The professor further emphasised the efficiency and precision of the Da Vinci robotic surgical system used for the procedure, explaining that the technology provides high definition, three dimensional imaging which enables surgeons to carry out complex and delicate procedures with a high level of precision.
He further explained that the system is particularly useful in procedures where extreme accuracy is required, as it allows surgeons to work within very small and delicate areas of the body while reducing unnecessary damage to surrounding tissues.
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Professor Ekwueme also highlighted the ability of the robotic arms to mimic natural hand movements, noting that the system provides seven degrees of freedom of movement, thereby allowing the surgeon to perform intricate procedures with enhanced precision and control.
He said the technology could contribute significantly to improved surgical outcomes, faster recovery, and reduced trauma for patients, particularly in complex urological and cancer related procedures.
Another major advantage of the robotic system, he explained, is its capacity to minimise blood loss during surgery, thereby reducing the possibility of complications associated with significant blood loss and, in appropriate cases, reducing the need for blood transfusion.
Professor Ekwueme disclosed that the first patient who underwent the robotic assisted prostate cancer surgery was expected to be discharged within 24 hours, subject to the medical team’s assessment of his condition. He added that the patient was expected to recover with minimal scarring and without the need for a blood transfusion, further demonstrating the benefits of minimally invasive robotic surgery.
The commencement of full operations at the Robotic Surgery and Oncology Centre, therefore, represents a significant addition to the healthcare infrastructure of Imo State and another indication of the administration’s commitment to expanding access to specialised and technology driven medical services.
With the successful completion of the first robotic assisted prostate cancer surgery, the centre has officially begun what is expected to be a new chapter in advanced surgical and cancer care in Imo State, bringing modern medical technology closer to patients and strengthening the state’s position as an emerging destination for specialised healthcare services in the South East.
An elated Governor Hope Uzodimma, who witnessed the landmark procedure, described the development as a major step towards providing residents with quality and affordable healthcare. He said that facility will serve, not only as a treatment centre, but will also promote early detection and prevention through routine medical checkups.
Governor Uzodimma revealed that facility is a Public – Private – Partnership with the majority of its funding coming from the private sector which would guarantee its sustainability and quality management. He, therefore, urged Imo people to enroll in the Imo State Health Insurance Scheme to make advanced medical treatment more affordable.
Uzodimma disclosed that the facility operates under a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), with the majority of its funding coming from the private sector, which he said, “would help guarantee its sustainability and quality management.”
The governor, therefore, urged residents to enroll in the Imo State Health Insurance Scheme to make advanced medical treatment more affordable and accessible to them. Last Thursday, at a pre-procedure media briefing at the Government House, Owerri, Uzodimma noted that Imo State was set to record a major healthcare breakthrough Friday, August 21, 2026 with its first-ever robotic-assisted surgical operation at the newly established IROC located within the Imo Specialist Hospital Complex.
A medical practitioner, Dr Amadi Philip, said with the facility in the state, people suffering from prostate issues now have the opportunity of getting quality treatment in the state without going abroad. He called on other Nigerians in the diaspora, who are specialists in their fields of endeavours, to emulate what Prof Ekwueme had done by investing in the state.
“This is commendable going by the huge resources committed to the oncology centre. I have seen the state-of-the-art equipment and, as a medical doctor, I know that they don’t come cheap. This facility will make both diagnosis and treatment cheaper when compared to getting the same treatment abroad. I must commend Prof. Ekwueme for taking the initiative because this facility will be doing what people go to India to do. But this one is even better because he is using robotic surgery and not open surgery which is now old fashioned. I am quite impressed and I urge our brothers and sisters in the diaspora who are specialists in the medical field to also invest in the state”.
Photo caption: Governor Hope Uzodimma (left) with Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme who led the team of doctors that performed the successful robotic assisted prostate cancer surgery in Imo State.
