The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo State, Prof. Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, has been named a member of the new National Committee for the Advancement of Occupational Therapy, Audiology and Speech Therapy Education (NCAOTASE).

With Adejuyigbe’s appointment disclosed to further strengthen UNIMED’s role in specialised healthcare training in Nigeria, the development was said to have been borne out as a recognition of her leadership and knowledge in medical education.

This committee was formed to improve allied health education throughout Nigeria with the aim of addressing crucial gaps in training, accreditation, and professional standards for the specialised fields.

With Dr Victoria Amu chairing the committee, which includes key stakeholders from academia, government, and the health sector, the group is poised to take a multi-institutional and interdisciplinary approach to reform allied health education.

According to Adejuyigbe, “This appointment shows the leading role of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, in medical science and health sciences education.

“As the first specialised medical science university in Nigeria, we have shown over the years that we can improve not only mainstream medical education but also develop allied health education in Nigeria.”

She further stressed that the committee will work on strategies and frameworks to enhance training, accreditation, and professional standards for occupational therapy, audiology, and speech therapy education across the country.

“Its creation represents a coordinated effort to improve these important, yet often underfunded, areas of healthcare delivery.”

Other members of the committee are Mr Gabriel Aborele from the National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr Hadiza Ismail from TETFund, Dr David Atuwo (SSA), and Dr Isa Nurudeen, the Medical Director of the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Kano.

Also on the committee are Dr Paul Agboola, Medical Director of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Aro, Abeokuta; Prof. John Emaimo, Vice-Chancellor of FUAHSE in Enugu; Prof. Julius Ademokoya from the University of Ibadan; Dr Femi Unufegan, Provost of Michael Imoudu College of Education in Edo State; and Mr Ayeni Oluwasegun, an Occupational Therapist at UNIMED, Ondo. TETFund will serve as the committee’s secretariat.