By Juliana Francis/
In a country battling a worsening brain drain and growing public anxiety over surgical risks, 75-year-old Pastor Folusho Koku had resigned himself to pain, and prayer.
For months, he lived on his knees as much as on his feet, seeking divine relief from a debilitating spinal condition. But when help finally came, it arrived not through the operating theatre, but via a non-invasive medical alternative that would change his life.
“I had been praying for God’s intervention,” Koku recalled. “When my brother told me about the Spine and Nerve Centre, I came here, and truly, my prayers were answered.”
Koku’s story formed one of the highlights at the official opening of the Spine and Nerve Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos, on Saturday, April 11, 2026. The facility, which specialises in non-surgical spinal decompression, offers treatment for chronic back and neck pain without the need for invasive procedures.
For many Nigerians, increasingly wary of surgical complications and medical errors, the centre represents a timely intervention.
Koku’s journey to recovery had been long and painful. Diagnosed two years earlier, he described his condition as “unbearable,” forcing him into prolonged dependence on painkillers, an approach that soon began to threaten his kidneys and liver.
It was his brother, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who introduced him to the centre’s alternative treatment model.
“I was afraid of surgery,” he said. “I had heard of cases where people went in for operations and came out worse. But here, everything was explained clearly. I saw improvement in less than six days, even though I was told it could take up to 12 weeks.”
From arriving with a numb leg to regaining mobility, Koku’s recovery underscores the promise of the centre’s approach.
He was not alone.
Several other patients, including a Rear Admiral, also shared compelling testimonies of recovery, reinforcing confidence in the clinic’s non-invasive methods.
Originally established in Ghana, the Spine and Nerve Centre first entered Nigeria through Abuja before expanding to Lagos in response to rising demand. The Victoria Island facility marks a strategic step in bridging a critical gap in specialised spine care.
Speaking at the launch, the Co-founder and Clinical Director, Dr Craig Slapinski, described the Lagos expansion as a milestone in a journey spanning over two decades.
“Our decision to come to Nigeria was driven by the number of Nigerians travelling to Ghana for treatment,” he said. “We realised there was a clear need to make these services available locally.”
Dr Slapinski explained that the centre deploys a combination of advanced therapies, including spinal decompression, electrical stimulation, and cold laser treatment, to address spinal conditions without surgery.
He described spinal decompression as a process that gently separates the vertebrae, relieving pressure on discs and nerves while promoting natural healing.
“In many cases, pain is caused by discs pressing on nerves,” he said. “Decompression creates space, reduces pressure, and allows nutrients to flow back into the affected area.”
The centre also uses a specialised laser technology designed to stimulate cellular activity and accelerate recovery.
According to him, treatments are personalised, with sessions lasting between 15 and 20 minutes, depending on the patient’s condition.
The event drew a high-profile audience, including traditional rulers, medical professionals, expatriates, and members of the security community.
Among the dignitaries were HRM Alhaji (Dr) Abdullahi Isa Dasong II, Emir of Gudi; HRM Alhaji (Dr) Isma’ila Mamman Gadaka of Yobe State; HRM Oba Abdulwasiu Gbolahan Lawal, the Oniru of Iruland and chairman of the occasion; and Professor Abdulmumini Ibrahim, former Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
In his goodwill message, Professor Ibrahim described the centre as a viable alternative for patients seeking to avoid surgery.
“This is an option for those who do not want to be cut open,” he said. “The demand for this service speaks for itself. I believe Nigerians will benefit greatly.”
Guests were later taken on a guided tour of the facility, with demonstrations of its equipment and treatment processes.
To mark the opening, the centre also offered a 50 percent discount to patients who registered on-site.
According to the management, more than 90 percent of patients who qualify for treatment experience significant relief through non-surgical methods, helping them avoid invasive procedures, narcotic dependence, and associated risks.
For patients like Koku, the impact is already profound.
What began as a desperate search for healing has become a testament to the power of innovation, and a reminder that, sometimes, relief does not require the knife.
Related posts:
Emir of Gadaka Pushes for Spine Centre Expansion to Yobe, Assures Investors of Security
Twitching in the Body Can Be Warning Sign for 3 Major Cancers
Prof Utomi: Prof Ekwueme Brings Cancer Cure Hopes (1)
Lagos Train-Bus Accident and Process of Disaster Triage
How One Million People Recovered from COVID-19 …Doctors Find New Way to Save Lives
Pill Made from Human Faeces for Treatment of Dangerous Infections Wins Approval