{
  "id": 19336311,
  "title": "Chichi Menakaya: How Nigeria Can Achieve Excellence in Robotic Surgery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/10/chichi-menakaya-how-nigeria-can-achieve-excellence-in-robotic-surgery",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-10T11:10:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/11/10/chichi-menakaya-how-nigeria-can-achieve-excellence-in-robotic-surgery/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nigeria is poised for a significant leap in medical innovation through the adoption of robotic surgery. A UK-based consultant surgeon, Chichi Menakaya, has highlighted the country's progress in this area, noting the successful remote robotic procedures from Ogun State to Abuja and the emergence of robotic-assisted urological surgery in Imo State. Menakaya believes these achievements underscore Nigeria's commitment to advanced surgical procedures and the delivery of high-quality healthcare.\n\nHowever, she cautions that the success of robotic surgery in Africa hinges on the institution's readiness, not the continent's overall capacity. This readiness requires a robust theatre team, anaesthesia, maintenance, reliable infrastructure, and robust clinical governance. The surgeon emphasizes that a robotic programme is not just about performing the first operation but establishing a service capable of delivering consistent, high-quality care long after the initial procedure.\n\nThe function of a surgical robot is to augment the surgeon's abilities, not replace their judgment. Different platforms offer varying levels of visualisation, instrument control, anatomical planning, and precision-guided preparation. While some studies suggest that robotic surgery can enhance precision in procedures like hip and knee replacement, the clinical benefits vary depending on the specialty, procedure, platform, and outcome measured. For instance, a 2026 RACER-Knee trial found that while Mako-assisted knee replacement was more precise, it did not offer clinically meaningful patient-reported benefits at one year and was more expensive than conventional surgery.\n\nWith Nigeria's focus on both basic healthcare needs and advanced surgery, Menakaya argues that these should not be treated as mutually exclusive. Investment in robotic technology can be justified if it provides demonstrable value, but governments must allocate public funds based on clear clinical priorities, realistic demand, and opportunity costs. She advises against treating innovation as exempt from scrutiny, emphasizing the need for transparent evaluation of the investment's return.\n\nFor those aspiring to establish a robotic surgery centre in Nigeria, Menakaya recommends commencing with an independent readiness assessment, evaluating patient demand, specialty needs, existing expertise, infrastructure, equipment options, full lifecycle costs, and safety arrangements. This assessment should precede any purchase decision and inform the development of a phased clinical programme, workforce plan, and outcome framework. Aligning the strategy with the robot's suitability and the service's needs is crucial.\n\nThe African medical diaspora can contribute to Nigeria's robotic surgery development through supervised training, faculty partnerships, research, proctoring, and mentorship. While visiting expertise is valuable, lasting impact depends on the establishment of competent local trainers and multidisciplinary teams. The success of knowledge transfer is measured by the enduring capability, not the visiting expert's profile.\n\nRegarding the potential impact of robotics on medical tourism, Menakaya notes that it can benefit certain specialties but cannot replace the importance of expertise, safety, dependable clinical systems, and patient confidence. Nigerian centers must maintain high standards from diagnosis through surgery, rehabilitation, and follow-up to attract patients seeking comprehensive treatment.\n\nFinally, Menakaya proposes a National Robotic Surgery Readiness and Training Framework grounded in four tests: institutional readiness, independently assessed workforce competence, transparent patient outcomes, and long-term financial and technical sustainability. This framework should support specialty-specific standards and identify suitable regional centers rather than assume every hospital needs a robot. Nigeria has made strides in developing surgical and training capabilities, and the opportunity lies in aligning expansion with consistent standards and evidence-based practices.",
  "summary": "Miss Chichi Menakaya is a UK-based Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising in robotic-assisted hip and knee surgery, with independent operative expertise across five robotic surgical platforms. She holds a",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}