By Sophia Afolabi
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IDCL Surgicals Limited for the establishment of Nigeria’s first Robotic Surgical Centre in the state.
The agreement, signed at the Government House, Owerri, is aimed at advancing specialised and technology-driven healthcare delivery in Imo State and the country at large.
The pact was executed through the state’s central health management body, the Heartland Hospital Management Corporation Limited, which will oversee hospital administration and clinical service management, while IDCL Surgicals Limited will handle technical components, including infrastructure development, equipment procurement and operational support.
IDCL Surgicals Limited is led by Professor Kingsley Ekwueme, a consultant urologist and robotic surgeon.
Under the agreement, the proposed centre will offer minimally invasive surgical procedures using advanced Da Vinci robotic systems, a technology expected to improve surgical precision, shorten recovery periods and enhance patient outcomes.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Uzodimma said the initiative was part of his administration’s efforts to attract strategic investments and strengthen public-private partnerships in the health sector.
He said the project would position Imo State as a hub for advanced medical services and medical tourism, while also serving as a research and training centre for medical professionals across Nigeria.
The governor added that the project aligns with his administration’s broader vision of strengthening the healthcare system, reducing outbound medical tourism, creating skilled employment opportunities and providing residents with access to world-class surgical care within the state.
In his remarks, Ekwueme described the project as a landmark initiative and the first of its kind in Nigeria, commending the governor for what he termed visionary leadership in the health sector.
He also cited the enrolment of over 1.5 million Imo indigenes in the state’s free health insurance scheme as evidence of the administration’s commitment to quality healthcare.
Ekwueme assured of IDCL Surgicals Limited’s readiness to deliver the project within the agreed timeline, expressing confidence that the centre would improve healthcare delivery and contribute to the socio-economic development of the state.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmos Iwu; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barrister Nnamdi Anyaehie; the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Paul Obinatu; the Commissioner for Health, Dr Chioma Egu; the Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-Government, Dr Chimezie Amadi; the Managing Director of the Heartland Hospital Management Corporation, Dr Emmanuel Ogueri; and the Governor’s Technical Adviser, Dr Bola Adigun.
