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A landmark collaboration is underway in Nigeria aimed at expanding sustainable, high-quality prosthetic care and building local capacity through advanced digital manufacturing and hands-on clinical training.
Under a project facilitated by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)—an agency that promotes inclusive and sustainable industrial development—a digital prosthetics (3D printing) training programme has been launched at Cedarcrest Hospitals, a leading multi-specialty healthcare institution in Nigeria. This initiative brings together cutting-edge technology from Instalimb Inc. and world-class clinical expertise to enhance prosthetic services for amputees and people with physical disabilities.
Harnessing Digital Technology to Improve Prosthetic Production
Instalimb’s digital approach uses 3D scanning and advanced CAD workflows to capture the precise anatomy of a residual limb, enabling the creation of high-quality, custom sockets with speed and consistency. This technology significantly reduces lead times compared with traditional fabrication methods, and can empower clinicians — even those with limited fabrication experience — to produce reliable prosthetic components after shorter training periods.
This method not only accelerates production but also supports the development of locally sustainable prosthetic industries, helping meet ongoing needs for limbs and braces while creating new technical and manufacturing jobs within the Nigerian healthcare system.
UNIDO’s Role in Strengthening Local Rehabilitation Capacity
The UNIDO project aims to advance sustainable prosthetic manufacturing solutions by transferring digital technology and training skills to local healthcare providers. While Instalimb’s technology is being tested globally (including in other regions such as Ukraine), this partnership in Nigeria is focused on adapting the model for local conditions, building clinical and technical skills, and creating a training ecosystem for future practitioners.
By leveraging UNIDO’s development framework, the initiative also connects with broader goals of sustainable healthcare, job creation, and inclusive industrial innovation — aligning assistive technology advancement with economic empowerment.
Cedarcrest Hospitals: Clinical Leadership and Training Hub
Cedarcrest Hospitals was selected as the host site for the digital prosthetics training programme, where clinicians and technicians will gain hands-on experience with 3D scanning, digital modelling, and additive manufacturing workflows. The hospital — already known for its Prosthetic & Orthotic Centre offering comprehensive prosthetics, orthotics, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation services — will lead not only the clinical fitting and gait training aspects, but also help train the next generation of local practitioners.
With facilities across Abuja, Lagos, Jebba, Kainji, and other locations, Cedarcrest is positioned to scale this model and embed advanced fabrication skills into regular prosthetic service delivery.
A New Chapter for Rehabilitation in Africa
This collaboration represents a major step toward closing the gap in access to modern prosthetic care in Nigeria and the broader region. By combining international development support, cutting-edge digital manufacturing technology, and local clinical excellence, the project aims to:
- Increase the quality and availability of custom prosthetic devices
- Reduce turnaround times for prosthetic fitting and delivery
- Train clinicians and technicians in digital fabrication workflows
- Build local sustainability and employment in rehabilitation services
As the programme unfolds, Nigeria could serve as a regional exemplar for digital prosthetic production and capacity building, helping ensure that more people with limb loss and physical disabilities can access timely, effective mobility solutions.
