Conjoined twins surgery · Northern Nigeria

Dr Samson Olori led first ever successful conjoined twins surgery in northern Nigeria

In 2018, Dr Samson Olori led the multidisciplinary team at University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) in the first ever successful conjoined twins separation in northern Nigeria. The surgery was a historic milestone for the region and for paediatric surgery in Nigeria.

Abuja, as the federal capital, sits in the north-central zone. The procedure at UATH brought world-class conjoined twins care to northern Nigeria, with months of planning, a 30-person team in theatre and specialist input from paediatric surgery, anaesthesia and nursing. Dr Olori, as lead surgeon, has since continued to offer expert evaluation and surgical care for families facing this rare condition across the north and the country.

The achievement is documented in the official UATH hospital bulletin and was covered by BBC News. Families in northern Nigeria and beyond can contact Dr Olori for a confidential discussion about conjoined twins care.

After the separation, the Red Team managed Baby A and the Blue Team managed Baby B in theatre. The babies recovered in the Special Care Baby Unit and were later discharged. The separated twins and their parents were photographed with the Chief Medical Director, Professor B. A. Ekele, and other senior staff shortly after discharge—a testament to the success of the first ever conjoined twins surgery in northern Nigeria.