Governor Hope Uzodimma partners with IDCL Surgicals to establish a Robotic Surgical Centre, enhancing healthcare and medical tourism in Imo State

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IDCL Surgicals Limited to establish Nigeria’s first Robotic Surgical Centre. The signing took place at the Government House, Owerri.

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Uzodimma said the initiative aims to broaden and modernise the state’s healthcare system while attracting strategic investments and promoting public-private partnerships.

“Our vision is to position Imo as a regional hub for advanced medical services and medical tourism,” Uzodimma said, adding that the centre will serve as a research and training facility for medical professionals across Nigeria.

Under the agreement, Heartland Hospital Management Corporation Limited will oversee hospital administration and clinical service management, while IDCL Surgicals Limited will provide technical support, including infrastructure, equipment, and operational services.

The governor said the project will reduce outbound medical tourism, create skilled employment opportunities, and provide citizens with world-class surgical care locally.

Prof. Kingsley Ekwueme, a Consultant Urological and Robotic Surgeon leading the IDCL delegation, described the centre as a landmark project and the first of its kind in Nigeria.

He said the facility will use advanced Da Vinci robotic systems to deliver minimally invasive surgeries, improving surgical precision, reducing recovery times, and enhancing patient outcomes.

Ekwueme praised Uzodimma for his commitment to healthcare and highlighted the enrolment of over 1.5 million Imo residents in the state’s free health insurance scheme.

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He assured the government of IDCL Surgicals’ readiness to complete the project on schedule, emphasising its potential impact on public health and the state’s socio-economic development.