Renowned Surgeon Olutoye Visits New Massey Children’s Hospital
Renowned Nigerian pediatric surgeon Professor Oluyinka Olutoye visited the construction site of the New Massey Children’s Specialist Referral Hospital in Lagos on Thursday. His visit comes as the Lagos State government seeks to attract highly skilled Nigerian medical professionals currently practicing abroad.
Olutoye, who serves as the Surgeon-in-Chief at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, was accompanied by his wife, Professor Toyin Olutoye, a pediatric anesthesiologist at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, announced the visit via social media on October 15. He noted that the meeting presented a valuable opportunity to discuss the state’s plans for the New Massey Hospital, which aims to become a regional referral center for specialized pediatric care.
Abayomi emphasized the importance of attracting Nigerian medical specialists, like Olutoye, back to the country to improve healthcare delivery. “These are the Nigerian medical super-specialists we want to attract back to Lagos. We want our brains back in Nigeria, but the government must be intentional about it,” he stated.
Olutoye is internationally recognized for his role in a 2016 operation that successfully removed a life-threatening tumor from an unborn baby, returning the fetus to the womb to continue its development. Abayomi highlighted this groundbreaking procedure, calling it “amazing.”
During the visit, Olutoye expressed his support for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s vision of developing the new hospital into a regional center, aiming to reduce the need for Nigerian families to travel abroad for specialized pediatric treatment.
Also present were Dr. Cecilia Mabogunje, Chair of the New Massey Operationalization Committee, and Dr. Olanike Olutekunbi, Medical Director of the existing Massey Street Children’s Hospital. The planned 150-bed facility will include dedicated pediatric and neonatal intensive care units, as well as specialized medical and surgical services.
The new hospital is expected to support the training of future pediatricians and medical specialists while fostering international research collaborations.
Abayomi further revealed that the Lagos State Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP), currently under development, will allow Nigerian medical specialists abroad to participate virtually in clinical care in Lagos. He urged medical professionals excelling overseas to consider contributing their expertise to the state’s healthcare system, stating, “To every Nigerian medical professional excelling abroad: Lagos is building. Come and see.”
