Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, has presented another 64 Physiotherapists for induction into the Medical Rehabilitation Therapy Board (MRTB), having completed their professional training programme in the institution.
The new inductees represented the 2023/24 graduating set, the 5th of its kind in the university.
Tribune Online gathered that Bowen University had, so far, produced a total of 232 Physiotherapists inducted into the country’s health sector since the programme commenced in the 2015/2016 session.
At the induction exercise of the 64 Physiotherapy graduating students held recently, the Vice Chancellor of Bowen University, Professor Jonathan Babalola, described the institution as a learning centre where students do not just earn degrees, but are also trained for nobility and endowed with Physiotherapy skills capable of defining the future of health industry locally and globally.
While expressing appreciation to the academic staff of the institution for their effective knowledge impact on the students, the Vice Chancellor also thanked parents for their contributions towards the success story of the university education development.
Continuing, Professor Babalola urged the new inductees to conduct themselves well to be relevant in the system.
He said: “You are complete graduates in your field, thoroughly trained to contribute your quota towards healthcare development in the area of physiotherapy health services across the globe.”
He noted that many Bowen University graduates are performing excellently even at the global level, adding that in the recent university ranking status in Nigeria, Bowen emerged in third position among private institutions and 11th among all the universities in the country.
Also speaking, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria (MRTB), Professor Rufai Ahamd Yusuf, attested to the quality of applied Physiotherapy education that Bowen University offers and the quality outputs the institution has churned out into the Nigeria health sector in the last five years.
He noted that Nigeria’s health sector is still in a dearth of more trained physiotherapists. The MRTB boss urged all the accredited institutions in the country to increase their admission quota for physiotherapy education while also upgrading their teaching and research facilities to meet world standards.
Professor Yusuf advised the new inductees to advance in their profession by specialisation, as he called on the Nigerian universities to integrate social and psychology education with physiotherapy programmes.
He also called on the government to earmark a special fund for the advancement of physiotherapy programmes in Nigeria.
While making a case for a doctorate programme in Nigerian universities, he noted that the Board is coming up with a proposed Professional External Certificated examination designed for physiotherapists that will capture the knowledge of the art and science of practising physiotherapy globally.
The acting Head of Programme in the institution, Dr A . O. Jaiyesim, advised the new inductees to let Godliness reflect in their professional practices and live to be good ambassadors to their alma mater.
Similarly, the Provost, College of Health Sciences of the institution, Professor O.T. Awotunde, attributed Bowen University’s academic development and achievements to the unwavering support of the university management headed by Professor Babalola for their vision and commitment to academic and professional excellence.
According to him, the provision of facilities, resources and a conducive environment to nurture the inductees by Professor Babalola-led administration is a determinant factor to the success.
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