Dr David Ikudayisi, a U.S.-based Nigerian medical doctor and regenerative medicine expert, has unveiled a multi-million naira hospital named Glory Wellness and Regenerative Centre, in Abuja.
Freedomonline reports that the hospital deploys stem cells technology, offering treatments for damaged body tissues, and accelerating the body’s natural healing process which prevents further degeneration.
Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), while unveiling the hospital located at 7, Mamman Kontagora Crescent, Katampe, Gwarinpa, congratulated Ikudayisi for his vision.
She urged other diaspora Nigerians to emulate Ikudayisi by returning to invest in the country, stressing that there’s no point being the best in anything in the world, without looking back home.
Dabiri-Erewa said that in spite of the initial challenges he faced, Ikudayisi looked back because whichever way, Nigeria is the best in the world, adding that NiDCOM remained the bridge between Nigeria and the diaspora.
She said Nigerians seeking stem cell therapy abroad no longer have to spend money on medical tourism with the establishment of the hospital in Abuja, in addition to the first in Lagos.
“I mean, we are too powerful, Nigeria is everywhere in the world, I want to appeal to everybody listening to me, to do what you have done. The challenges were there for you, you know, we will cross the bridges for you.
“No matter how far a river flows, it cannot cut off from the source, please. Let’s walk together. Nigeria’s at home, Nigeria’s in the diaspora to build a beautiful country together.
“President Tinubu cannot do it alone. But he is also determined that he will work with you the diaspora, so let’s keep changing the narrative about Nigeria and show the world that we are the best anywhere in the world,” she said.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Salako, said the contribution of Nigerians in the diaspora to medical health development in the country was not being recognised enough.
Represented by Dr Babatunde Ladi-Akinyemi, his Special Adviser on Health System Strenghtening, the minister described the amount of specialist capacity available in Nigeria as mind-blowing.
“It’s mind-blowing to hear that about 20 billion dollars, you know, goes out of Nigeria on an annual basis on medical tourism. So imagine what that kind of money can do back to Nigeria.
“We need a landing page on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health, where these numbers are found out every time.
“So that when people interact with public platform, you know, the AI, this is as a way of pulling you to the things that are of interest to you, then they can find out that there’s help right here in Nigeria,” he said.
Amb. Nicholas Ella, the immediate past Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, appealed to Ikudayisi to consider the prevailing economic hardship in the country and make the hospital’s treatments affordable to citizens.
Ella explained that that was the best way that Ikudayisi could help to reverse medical tourism by Nigerians and also positively impact numerous citizens, families, the nation and its economy.
He disclosed that during the 2025 UN General Assembly session in New York, he was told that about 14 Nigerian diaspora doctors had also contributed about one million dollars each to build a hospital in the South-East.
Ella said that such diaspora investment commitments back home were gratifying to hear, and urged the Federal Government to show interest and do some follow up.
Delivering a keynote address at the event, Prof. Yomi Ogun, a Consultant Neurologist, Lagos State University, described Ikudayisi as a multitalented, visionary regenerative medicine specialist, and internal, aesthetics, cosmetics and geriatric medicine expert.
Ogun said that regenerative medicine is capable of restoring, renewing, recovering, rebuilding, rejuvenating human health, and reducing chronic inflammation, making the cells to look younger.
He said that Glory Wellness hospital would reduce unemployment, improve the nation’s healthcare economy, while society would live longer, healthier lives and have stronger families and greater productivity as well.
“The dividend is that in terms of impact, in terms of the health, we’re able to reverse medical tourism and deliver world-class care locally.
“We need to activate our scientific talent, our diaspora expertise. There’s no doubt that Nigerians are multi-talented. I mean, they’re blue tops globally,” he added.
Speaking on the reason for establishing the hospital, Ikudayisi explained that the driving force was his desire to come and help people in the country, and urged Nigerians doctors abroad to do same.
“If that’s your passion, there’s always a solution to every problem. At the end of the day, when you look back, you’ll be happy that you did. You’re going to give it back to the country. And I’m happy to do that,” he said.
Ikudayisi likened regenerative medicine technology to a super-oxygen treatment that kills bacterial viruses and fungus in the blood, treats virtually every tissue issue, promoting regeneration and anti-ageing.
“Most importantly, it’s the adult stem cell therapy, the antithermal therapy.
“So, any kind of condition, from diabetic stroke, kidney problems, autism disease, cerebral palsy, hypertension, arthritis, just name it,” he said.
He explained that the treatment involves using the patient’s own blood, or the fat on their abdomen area, or the bone marrow in the bone, or maybe the brachial core, which is the stem cells from the human body.
“You can use those things to reduce the inflammation, stop the inflammation, regenerate any of that, stop the process of deterioration in the body,” he added.
He said that regenerative therapy is affordable for people of varying statuses, but advised them to seek early intervention because it costs more if the condition has been in their systems for long.
