The College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI), in collaboration with The Thompson Abayomi Oshin Health and Education Foundation, are delighted to extend this virtual invitation to the Commissioning and Handing Over Ceremony of the Thompson Abayomi Oshin Physiotherapy Building, in the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan. This momentous event coincides with the 98th birthday of Dr. Thompson Abayomi Oshin, the respected 'Father of Physiotherapy' in Nigeria.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 30th July 2024
Time: 11 am
Venue: Thompson Abayomi Oshin Physiotherapy Building, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, University College Hospital, Ibadan Premises.
The Commissioning is to be performed by His Excellency, The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
You can join the commissioning virtually through the following links:
YouTube Link: WATCH HERE
Join Zoom Meeting here: JOIN HERE
Meeting ID: 817 4450 2883
Passcode: PHYSIOSHIN
Your participation and engagement are highly appreciated.
Thank you.
Profile of Dr. Thompson Abayomi Oshin
Ph.D, M.Phil, B.P.T., M.C.S.P., DIP.T.P., M.C.P.A., F.N.S.P., D.Sc (Honoris Causa)
Dr. Thompson Abayomi Oshin was born on July 30th, 1926, to the Oshin family of Mobalufon, Ijebu-Ode. An accomplished physiotherapist and educator, he earned the title of 'Father of Physiotherapy' in Nigeria by the Society of Physiotherapy in 1971. This was in recognition of his pioneering contributions to the field over several decades, God being his help and support through his childhood up to the present.
Dr. Oshin’s career is marked by numerous Firsts, Honours and Distinctions including:
- First African Physiotherapist: Qualified in London in January 1954.
- First African Physiotherapist in sole charge of the Physiotherapy Department (evening clinic) at St. Nicholas Hospital, Plumstead, London in 1954.
- First African Physiotherapist to broadcast on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) London on the Value of Physiotherapy to West Africa in 1954.
- First African Exchange Physiotherapist to the USA from 1958 - 1959.
- Elected as the First Secretary-General, African Physiotherapist Organization in Cairo, Egypt in 1980.
- First African to teach Physiotherapy at Kings College Hospital, London from 1963-1965.
- Founding Member, Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (MCSP) Registration No.1 in 1959.
- Spearheaded the first B.Sc. Physiotherapy Program in Nigeria and was instrumental in the commencement of the B.Sc. (Physiotherapy) Degree Programme at the University of Ibadan in 1966.
- First University Lecturer of Physiotherapy in Nigeria.
- First Head and Consultant Physiotherapist, University College Hospital, Ibadan in 1973.
A multi-talented scholar, transcriber, and philanthropist, Dr. Oshin, is a member of the Boys Scout Association of Nigeria. He is also an accomplished musician, playing the organ, piano, flute, and harmonica from childhood in the 1940s and continuing into his 90s.
His professional contributions include authoring several publications, including the discovery of ‘Oja Palsy’, a medical condition published in "Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine,". He also designed various rehabilitative equipment, including the Oja Palsy Corrective Splints, folding wooden crutches, and Erb’s Palsy Corrective Splints.
In addition, he authored "A Thousand Year Perpetual Calendar 1583-3100 A.D" and the translation of 1 the Scout Promise and Scout Law from English to Yoruba (1999).
Dr. Oshin was a member of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT), the National Secretary in Nigeria of the International Society for the Welfare of Cripples (Physically Challenged), and a member of the Accreditation Panel of the National University Commission (NUC) on Medicine Programmes (Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, and Pharmacology). He was Chairman, The Medical Rehabilitation Therapists (Registration) Board of Nigeria and is the Life Patron of the Association of Physiotherapy students at the University of Ibadan.
Dr. Oshin served as the personal physiotherapist to Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Premier of the Western Region of Nigeria, from 1956 to 1959.
The “Oshin Babes Football Club” was founded by the Association of Physiotherapy Students University of Ibadan in his honour in 1987.
Dr. Oshin's philanthropic efforts include donating equipment, crutches, and wheelchairs to hospitals and homes for the physically challenged in Ibadan. He endowed prizes for the best graduating physiotherapy students at the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos, as well as for the best-graduating nurse in theory at the School of Nursing, University College Hospital Ibadan. He had donated land, teaching, and sports equipment to secondary schools to promote balanced education in his community.
Dr. Oshin speaks fluently two of the three major languages in Nigeria, Yoruba and Hausa, and he remembers very fondly, his childhood days living in Sabongari, Kano.
Dr. Oshin, a member of the Young Christian Men’s Fellowship of The Cathedral of St. James the Great Oke- Bola, Ibadan was Patron of the choir and a recipient of the Ibadan Anglican Diocese Honours and Awards.
Dr. Thompson Abayomi Oshin was married to Mrs. Adepeju Olufunmilayo Oshin of blessed memory. Mrs Oshin who retired as a Senior Matron from the University College Hospital Ibadan, stood by him and supported him throughout his career and accomplishments.
They are blessed with four well-accomplished and successful children, namely Dr. Segun Oshin, Barrister Oluwatoyin Somide, Dr. Enitan Ademuson and Mr. Wole Oshin as well as several wonderful grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
