Pastor Alexander Idachama has become the first patient to undergo robotic-assisted surgery at Redeemer’s Health Village in Redemption City, Ogun State, marking a new milestone for advanced surgical care in Nigeria.
The procedure was a robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy, carried out by a team involving specialists from the hospital and US-based RoboMed Global Inc. Prof. Obi Ekwenna-Davis, co-founder of RoboMed Global, worked alongside local doctors, including Dr Ifeanyi, during the operation.
Idachama said he learned about the hospital through its Chief Executive Officer, Dr Adedamola Dada. He visited the facility in the last week of August and underwent a series of orientation sessions before meeting members of the surgical team and preparing for the operation.
According to Idachama, the robotic system used during the procedure gave him confidence in choosing to receive treatment in Nigeria rather than travelling abroad. He described the equipment as world-class and said the decision saved him the cost and inconvenience associated with medical treatment overseas.
The pastor said he was discharged less than 24 hours after the operation. He experienced some mild pain following the procedure but said the discomfort reduced quickly.
Robotic-assisted surgery uses surgeon-controlled robotic instruments and enhanced visualisation to carry out complex procedures through smaller incisions. Surgeons at Redeemer’s Health Village have said the approach can reduce tissue damage, postoperative pain and hospital stays in appropriate cases.
Idachama is also an academic and researcher. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering and has a research background in electronics, electrical communication and smart-grid applications. He also serves as a pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which operates Redeemer’s Health Village.
The development came during a wider rollout of robotic surgery at the Ogun facility. Redeemer’s Health Village has also collaborated with RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja on a remote procedure, with surgeons in Ogun operating robotic equipment to treat a patient in Abuja. The procedure has been described by the organisations involved as West Africa’s first 500-kilometre telerobotic surgery.
For Idachama, the experience represents more than a personal medical milestone. His treatment highlights the growing use of advanced surgical technology in Nigeria and the potential for patients to access complex procedures locally rather than travelling abroad for every form of specialised care.