Business
Nigerian Excellence in Medicine: Dr. Dennis Agbazue Makes History in South Africa with Groundbreaking Spine Surgery
Nigerian Excellence in Medicine: Dr. Dennis Agbazue Makes History in South Africa with Groundbreaking Spine Surgery
By George O. Sylvester
On March 22, 2025, a new chapter was written in the annals of spinal surgery in South Africa. In what medical professionals are hailing as a major breakthrough in minimally invasive spine treatment, Nigerian-born orthopaedic and spinal surgeon, Dr. Dennis Agbazue, successfully performed Gauteng Province’s first fully endoscopic lumbar spinal decompression and fusion at Mediclinic Vereeniging. This landmark procedure has not only redefined the surgical possibilities within the province but has also elevated South Africa’s standing in the realm of advanced spinal care. More importantly, it represents the growing global footprint of Nigerian professionals who are transforming lives and industries in their host countries.
The patient, a 55-year-old male suffering from spondylolisthesis; a condition where one vertebra slips over another, often causing debilitating nerve compression and spinal stenosis underwent a complex yet precise surgical procedure executed entirely through two tiny incisions. Known as the bi-portal endoscopic technique, this method allows for bilateral laminectomy (removal of part of the vertebral bone), disc removal and spinal fusion all done with minimal disruption to muscle and tissue. This technique, relatively new in South Africa, reduces hospital stay, speeds up recovery and offers patients immediate relief from pain.
This is a monumental stride, not just for Mediclinic Vereeniging but for the entire province of Gauteng. Until now, endoscopic spinal surgeries, especially bi-portal decompression and fusion, were rarely performed in the region due to their high level of technical difficulty and the need for specialized training and equipment. Dr. Agbazue’s success now opens the door to a future where such procedures become commonplace, benefiting thousands of patients suffering from chronic spinal conditions.
A Surgeon of Many Firsts
Dr. Agbazue is not new to trailblazing. Since 2022, he has emerged as one of the few spinal surgeons in South Africa proficient in both uni-portal and bi-portal endoscopic spinal techniques. His journey into endoscopic spine surgery began with the uni-portal approach, a technique that involves a single incision for both visualization and surgical instruments. Since adopting it, he has successfully completed approximately 330 cases, earning him accolades from both peers and patients.
What sets him apart is not just his technical expertise, but his commitment to patient-centered care and surgical innovation. The transition to the bi-portal technique in 2024 allowed Dr. Agbazue to tackle more complex spinal conditions with enhanced surgical visibility and dexterity. Unlike open surgery, which often requires long incisions and extended recovery periods, the bi-portal method uses two small portals, one for a camera and another for surgical tools enabling more precision and less trauma to surrounding tissues.
“This technique represents the future of spine surgery,” Dr. Agbazue noted. “We are now able to offer patients the best of both worlds: surgical efficacy and a rapid return to normal life. It’s truly transformative.”
Building a Hub of Excellence in Vereeniging
Since leading the first endoscopic spinal surgery at Mediclinic Vereeniging on August 9, 2022, Dr. Agbazue has been instrumental in transforming the facility into a center of excellence for minimally invasive spine care. By March 2024, he had performed over 200 successful endoscopic spinal procedures, with outstanding outcomes and low complication rates.
His collaboration with Q Surgical, a medical instrumentation firm, has played a pivotal role in advancing the hospital’s capabilities. Together, they have introduced state-of-the-art endoscopic equipment and surgical tools, ensuring that local patients receive world-class care without the need to travel abroad.
As a result, Mediclinic Vereeniging has seen an influx of patients from across Gauteng, including metropolitan hubs like Johannesburg and Pretoria, seeking treatment under Dr. Agbazue’s expert care. For many, this represents not only hope but a second chance at life free from the chronic pain and disability associated with spinal disorders.
Representing Nigeria with Pride
At a time when negative narratives often dominate discussions about Nigeria and its citizens abroad, individuals like Dr. Dennis Agbazue offer a powerful counter-narrative. A proud Nigerian, Dr. Agbazue embodies the resilience, intellect and work ethic that define the best of the Nigerian spirit. His achievements are not isolated; rather, they are part of a broader wave of Nigerian professionals excelling globally in medicine, law, academia, technology and business.
From the corridors of Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic in the United States to the consulting rooms of top hospitals in the UK, Canada and Australia, Nigerian doctors have built a formidable reputation for excellence. According to a 2021 report by the UK’s General Medical Council, over 7,000 Nigerian-trained doctors were registered to practice in the UK, one of the largest contingents of foreign-trained doctors. In the United States, Nigerian-Americans are among the most highly educated immigrant groups, with medicine ranking among the top professions.
In South Africa, despite facing xenophobic challenges, Nigerians like Dr. Agbazue continue to distinguish themselves through competence and integrity. They fill critical gaps in healthcare and education and contribute to national development in quiet yet powerful ways.
The Global Shift Toward Minimally Invasive Surgery
Dr. Agbazue’s success must also be seen within the global context of medical innovation. The past two decades have seen a seismic shift from traditional open surgeries to minimally invasive procedures across all specialties. Spinal surgery, once known for long recovery periods and high complication risks, has now embraced technologies such as robotics, navigation systems and endoscopic tools.
In endoscopic spinal surgery, the benefits are indisputable. Studies published in peer-reviewed journals such as The Spine Journal and Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine have shown that endoscopic techniques result in less blood loss, shorter operative times, lower infection rates and faster functional recovery compared to open surgery. This approach is particularly beneficial for older patients or those with comorbidities who might not tolerate extensive surgery well.
Dr. Agbazue’s use of bi-portal endoscopy aligns South African spinal care with these international best practices, giving local patients access to treatment modalities previously reserved for developed countries.
A Call to Celebrate Nigerian Excellence
As Nigerians, we must learn to recognize, amplify and celebrate our own. In a world quick to highlight the failures and shortcomings of African professionals, stories like that of Dr. Dennis Agbazue remind us of our boundless potential. These are the narratives that must dominate our airwaves, newspapers and social platforms not only as a source of national pride but as an inspiration to young Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.
The future of Nigeria lies in the excellence of its people. Whether in medicine, innovation or public service, it is those who dare to push boundaries and defy odds that will shape our nation’s global identity. In Dr. Agbazue, we find one such individual a healer, a pioneer, and a worthy ambassador of the Nigerian dream.
Final note
The March 22 procedure at Mediclinic Vereeniging was more than a surgical first, it was a testament to the transformative power of skill, vision and perseverance. Dr. Dennis Agbazue’s achievement has not only raised the bar for spinal surgery in South Africa but has also positioned him as a beacon of excellence among Nigerian professionals abroad.
As we look to the future, may we continue to support and celebrate the likes of Dr. Agbazue, whose work reminds us that, regardless of where we come from, greatness knows no boundaries.
Business
Festus Keyamo has proven that he is a true son of Delta State through Warri Airport – Igosave
The Nigerian Passport Rip-Off: A Symbol of National Disgrace and Diaspora Exploitation
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
When former Rivers State Governor and Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, openly admitted that the Nigerian passport is “almost worthless abroad,” he wasn’t exaggerating. In fact, his words captured the daily humiliation faced by millions of Nigerians across the globe. Despite the glaring decline in its global value, the Nigerian passport remains one of the most expensive in the world. This contradiction (PAYING A PREMIUM PRICE FOR A DOCUMENT THAT INVITES SUSPICION AND REJECTION AT BORDERS) is not just illogical; it’s criminal.
Today, in 2025, Nigerians in the diaspora are being bled dry under the pretext of acquiring basic identity documents. The National Identity Number (NIN), originally meant to be a free or affordable civic right, has become a commercial racket. It now costs as high as R1,250 (about ₦110,000) even for a six-year-old child in obtaining a NIN in South Africa. This isn’t just unethical, it’s extortion.
This is a business for someone at others’ pains,” lamented Rika Augusta, a frustrated Nigerian mother in South Africa whose six-year-old daughter was forced to pay the full amount just to be recognised as Nigerian.
For a country ranked 131st out of 139 countries on the Henley Passport Index in terms of travel freedom, the price Nigerians pay for this underperforming passport is nothing short of madness. According to the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the “enhanced e-passport” costs between ₦400,000 to ₦600,000, excluding service charges imposed by third-party agencies such as OIS and other consular fees. These costs triple when processed from abroad.
Benjy Oloye, a Nigerian in South Africa, echoes the frustration of many:
“I captured in January. Since then, it’s been one story after another. Till today, nothing. Is this a passport or a miracle
we’re praying for?”
The bottlenecks and delays are not merely bureaucratic hiccups;
they are deliberate schemes. The outsourcing of biometric capture and passport
issuance to third-party companies like Online Integrated Services (OIS) has become a well-oiled machine of financial exploitation. Nigerians are forced to pay additional “admin” and “service” fees that are neither regulated nor justified.
“OIS service fee: R100.
Consulate admin fee:
R350.
This is an organised
scam,” revealed Bennie, another Nigerian in
South Africa who has meticulously documented every extra cost.
One wonders: How did we get here?
The Politics of Pain and Profit
The answer is simple; GREED. The Nigerian system is deeply infested with a culture of monetising misery. From driver’s licenses to passports and now even the NIN, everything has become a money-making scheme for a few elites at the expense of 220 million Nigerians.
Pastor Israel Angel White, based in Pretoria, aptly described the situation:
“Some guys are making money out of this, no doubt. Greed is in their DNA. It’s awful.”
This systemic extortion is especially cruel for those in the diaspora who have already endured the trauma of leaving their homeland in search of better opportunities. They contribute over $25 billion annually in remittances, yet they are treated as nothing more than ATM machines by the Nigerian government.
“The Nigerian government sees those of us in the diaspora as nothing more than a cash cow,” says a Nigerian professional in Cape Town. “We’re paying premium prices for substandard services and being told to smile while doing it.”
Data Don’t Lie
Let’s take a moment to compare:
United States Passport: $165 (~₦250,000) with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 180 countries.
United Kingdom Passport: £82.50 (~₦130,000) with 190+ countries accessible.
Nigerian Passport: ₦400,000+ with access to barely 46 countries visa-free, mostly in West Africa.
So why does the Nigerian passport cost more than world-leading passports? Why does a six-year-old child have to pay same as an adult to get a NIN? The answer lies not in logistics or technology, but in intentional extortion.
A Culture of Silence and Endurance
What’s perhaps more disturbing is how this exploitation has been normalised. Nigerians, whether at home or abroad, have become so accustomed to pain and systemic failure that they rarely push back.
“We can’t afford it; it’s a lot of money. But one thing about being Nigerian is that we’ve mastered the art of adapting, even to pain,” said one diaspora student in Durban. “We’ve normalized struggle so much that we don’t even question it anymore.”
But enough is enough. There must be a call for mass mobilisation. Nigerians in the diaspora are more than 17 million strong and their voices can no longer be silenced. Imagine if each of them sent an email or letter demanding reform, that kind of pressure is impossible to ignore.
The Diaspora Must Lead the Charge
The diaspora cannot remain passive observers. We must become vocal actors. Through organised action ie: letters, petitions, lobbying international media and using legal mechanisms in host countries, yes we can expose and dismantle this daylight robbery.
We must ask:
Why is there no price differentiation for children and economically disadvantaged citizens?
Why are there no audit reports on the revenue generated from these services?
Why are third-party companies allowed to fleece Nigerians without regulatory oversight?
Why is the Nigerian passport not getting global upgrade despite its inflated cost?
If answers are not provided, then accountability must be demanded.
A National Shame
This entire mess speaks to the deeper rot in Nigeria’s governance system. A government that cannot deliver something as basic as a passport or identity card is one that has failed fundamentally. It is a betrayal of trust, an insult to every citizen who dreams of a better life under the green-white-green flag.
When identity becomes a luxury, then nationality becomes a prison.
This is not just about passports and NIN. It’s about the dignity of Nigerians. It’s about fighting a system that sees its own people as prey. It’s about saying “No more!” to those who profit from our pain.
Final Thoughts: Nigeria, We Hail Thee?
Indeed, “Nigeria we hail thee” not in reverence, but in disbelief. For how long shall citizens continue to bleed for basic rights? For how long shall diaspora Nigerians, the backbone of our economic survival, be treated as expendable wallets?
The time to act is now.
As long as we remain silent, they will continue to inflate our costs, delay our documents, insult our intelligence and trample on our dignity.
The Nigerian passport saga is not just a national embarrassment, it is a scandal, a theft and a crime against citizenship.
George Omagbemi Sylvester
Political Analyst, Diaspora Advocate and Contributor to SaharaWeeklyNG.com
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