History of the Department.
The Department of Medical Rehabilitation is one of the foremost departments in the history of the then Faculty of Health Sciences, now known as the College of Health Sciences.
Historical records indicate that Medical Rehabilitation and Nursing Science initially operated as a single department — the Department of Medical Rehabilitation and Nursing — under the leadership of Ms. O. O. Kujore from 1977 to 1983. The leadership was subsequently assumed by Dr. V. C. Nwuga from 1980 to 1983, prior to the formal separation of Nursing Science in August 1983, which led to the establishment of an independent Department of Nursing Science.
The Department of Medical Rehabilitation is presently located in the basement of Block Z of the College of Health Sciences Building Complex. It shares the complex with the Departments of Chemical Pathology, Haematology and Immunology, Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Morbid Anatomy, as well as the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences. The Department is strategically situated between the Medical Illustration Unit and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Dr. (now Emeritus Professor) Vincent C. Babatunde and Mrs. Adepeju Nwuga were among the pioneer academic staff of the Department. The first cohort of students, comprising five individuals, successfully graduated in 1981, marking the beginning of a distinguished legacy in medical rehabilitation education.
(i) Year of Establishment
The training of Physiotherapist started at the Department of Medical Rehabilitation Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in 1977, with the Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation (BMR) with option of Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy The progenitor of the programme, in the person of Late Emeritus Professor V.C.B Nwuga developed a curriculum for Physiotherapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT), however, the occupational therapy programme could not start immediately with physiotherapy programme because of lack of man power. Until 2003/2004 academic session when the Occupational therapy programme started.
(ii) Mandate and Philosophy of Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation Programme:
The BMR (PT) and (OT) programmes are designed to train students to a high level of competence in the practice of PT and OT who will be able to identify and solve research problems in Medical Rehabilitation. As such the BMRPT and OT programme require the student’s dedication, logical reasoning, scientific critique of past and on-going works and ability to take responsibility in PT and OT related disciplines.
(iii) Philosophy
The students in the Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation (BMR) programme are to be exposed to the physical, occupational and economic problems inherent in the different community setting, which affects the needs of the patients and their responses to rehabilitation therapy using a variety of health care facilities. The mission of this programme is to prepare students as PTs and OTs who are capable of providing excellent and evidence based professional services in any practice environment in line with global best practice. Also, the philosophy of the programme is to train students in the attitude of empathy, sympathy, humanity, patience and understanding of human feelings in order to uphold the dignity of human kind, the right of quality health care services and the potential of the individual as a consumer to actively participate in the health care process.
The BMR programme is an apt and future-relevant response to the national health care needs of producing physiotherapists and occupational therapists who are (i) qualified both through formal education and clinical training to evaluate a patients’ condition, assess his/her rehabilitation needs and, when appropriate, safely and effectively treat the patient and (ii) well-qualified to recognize when patients demonstrate conditions, signs and symptoms that should be referred to and evaluated by other health care professionals before therapy is instituted.
At the completion of this programme a professional degree in Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy, denoted by the letters, BMR (PT or OT) is awarded. This is in compliance with the guidelines of the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Reg.) Board of Nigeria, the legal body that controls the training and practice of Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy in Nigeria and to meet up with international standard as directed by the World Physical Therapy.
(iv) Objectives of the Programme:
The objectives of the programme are to:
(i) train graduates to a high level of competence in the practice of physical and occupationaltherapy who will be able to identify and solve research problems in Medical Rehabilitation.
(ii) expose the undergraduate to the physical, occupational and economic problems inherent in the different community setting, which affects the needs of the patient and their responses to rehabilitation therapy using a variety of health care facilities.
(iii) emphasize and inculcate into the personality of the trainee, the attitude of empathy, sympathy, humanity, patience and understanding of human feelings.
(B) Academic Programme
Presently Department of Medical Rehabilitation is offering Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation,Physiotherapy and Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy programme. The Postgraduate programmesinclude Masters of Science in Physiotherapy and Doctor of Philosophy in Physiotherapy.
(C)Accreditation Status
The Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation, Physiotherapy and the postgraduates programmeare accredited by National University Commission, and Medical Rehabilitation Therapy Board of Nigeria. The Occupational Therapy programme is hidden under Physiotherapy. However, the Core Curriculum for Minimum Academic Standard (CCMAS) has been submitted for Occupational Therapy for Resource Verification, the curriculum for the Masters of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Occupational Therapy have been approved by the Postgraduate Board Study, awaiting the Senate and Council approval of the University for implementation. The Bachelor Medical Rehabilitation Physiotherapy is being upgraded from five years to six years as Doctor of Physiotherapy, this is awaiting resource verification.
(D) Notable achievements:
1 Academic Honor:
(i) Date of Professorial announcement
Emeritus Professor: V.C.B Nwuga was pronounced Emeritus on Oct 1, 2007
Prof M.O.B Olaogun October 1, 2003
Prof R. A Adedoyin October 1, 2010
Prof M.O.Egwu October 1, 2013
Prof A.O Ojoawo October 1, 2019
(ii)Inaugural Lecture Delivery Date and Title
Prof V.C.B Nwuga, Oct 22, 1985: The Genesis, the Prevention and the Treatment of Lowback Pain
Prof M.O.B Olaogun: Sept 13, 2011: The Red Flags, Gait, Abnormalities and the Way out of Suffering.
Prof R.A Adedoyin: May 9, 2017: Arise and Walk- A theology of Exercise for Healthy Living.
Prof M.O Egwu: Sept 12, 2023: Back Pain and the Healing Hands of a Nwugarian Manipulative Physiotherapist: The Journey so far.
Prof A.O Ojoawo: Sept: 23, 2025 Freedom from Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain and non communicable diseases: The Odyssey of a Clinical Academics
2 Leadership Records:
The Head of Department from the inception is as listed below
(i) Ms O.O Kujore 1977-1980
(i)Dr Vincent ChuckumekaBabatundeNwuga August 1, 1980 to July 31 1983
(ii)Emeritus Professor Vincent ChukumekaBabatundeNwugaAugust 1,1983 to 1993
(ii) DrPolycapUmunnaNwoha August 1 1993 to July 31, 1996
(iii) MrMatthew OlatokunboBamideleOlaogun, August 1, 1995 to July 31, 2005
(iv) DrMichael OgbonniaEgwu August 1 2005 to July 31, 2007
(v) Dr Rufus .AdesojiAdedoyin August 1 2007 to July 31, 2011
(vi) Prof OlatokunboBamideleOlaogun, August 1, 2011 to July 31, 2014
(vii) Prof Rufus .AdesojiAdedoyin August 1, 2014 to July 31, 2017
(viii) Dr.TeslimAyodeleOnigbinde August 1, 2017 to July 31, 2019
(ix) Dr AdesolaOjoOjoawo August 1, 2019 to July 31, 2021
(x)DrChidozie Emmanuel Mbada August 1, 2021 to July 31, 2022
(xi) Prof Michael OgbonniaEgwu August 1, 2022 to July 31, 2025
(xii) Prof Adesola OjoOjoawo August 1, 2025 till date
3 Grants worn in the Department:
Many of the academics in the department has worn various grants in form of travel grants and research grants for the University. Two lecturers are presently on Post Doctoral training outside the country and another one on grant to complete his doctoral work outside the country.
Products of the Department are in various places of responsibilities both in the country and in various countries of the world.
One of the Professors in the Department in the person of Professor R.A Adedoyin has been recognized to be one of the leading researchers in the University, in West Africa and in Africa at large