COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED AT THE END OF THE  53RD ANNUAL NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE OF THE NIGERIA SOCIETY OF PHYSIOTHERAPY (NSP) HELD AT FIRST MOLAC HOTEL AND PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING INSTITUTE ALAGBAKA, AKURE ONDO STATE  CITY BETWEEN 29TH OCTOBER AND 2ND NOVEMBER 2013

PREAMBLE: The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) continued tradition and held successfully her 53rd Annual National Scientific Conference tagged “SUNSHINE 2013” at First Molac Hotel and Public Service Training Institute, Alagbaka, Akure, Ondo State. NSP members from various states chapters, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and diaspora were in attendance. The Theme of the Conference was “Advancing Physiotherapy in Nigeria: Team Building and Continuous Professional Development” while the Sub-Themes were “Physiotherapy in Maternal and Child Health” and “Physiotherapy in the Management of Traumatic Injuries: Current Trends.

The opening ceremony was chaired by the Chief (Dr) Joseph Iranola Akinlaja and the chief host was the Executive Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Dr Olusegun Mimiko accompanied by his amiable wife Oluwakemi Mimiko. The first Christopher Ajao lecture titled “UNITY, THE COMPASS AND PATHFINDER TO THE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF PHYSIOTHERAPY IN NIGERIA IN THE 21ST CENTURY" was delivered at the opening ceremony by Professor Victor Obajuluwa, a Professor and Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE) with the Ivy Tech Physical Therapy faculty. The 1st Thompson Abayomi Oshin Elite Lecture titled was also delivered by associate Professor Abiodun Akinwutan who is currently a US Fulbright scholar to the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria and he is the Associate Dean for Research in Georgia Reagents University, USA. Among others the Conference events featured Committee of Heads of Physiotherapy Departments in Nigeria (CHOPDIN), plenary sessions on the theme and sub-theme of the Conference, annual general meeting, tourist train to Idanre Hills and a visit to the Medical Village. The following decisions and resolutions were reached at the conference.

Resolutions and Decisions:  

1.The Constitution of the NSP underwent review and was adopted. It will be worthy to note the last review was last done in 2007. Details of the review of the 2007 NSP constitution as amended by the house will be published by the Constitution Review Committee of NSP within a set timeline.

2.That state chapter reports will be reviewed under the following considerations hence forth:

-An official copy of reports is required to be provided for the secretariat on or before the AGM annually.

-Marks/Appraisals would be awarded to states based on their reports.

-Guidelines will be created to capture necessary requirements in state chapters’ reports.

3.That the NEC in co-operation with all members of the society should endeavor to source for the necessary fund amounting to a total of N3.5m to secure the NSP land in Ibadan within the stipulated time frame.

4.That NEC should to look into the issue of forming a forum of chairpersons of state chapters of NSP within the next 3months to foster governance and unity.

5.That the newly appointed chairman of the Board of MRTB Col. Pascal Mogbo  should continue to strengthen ties and the good relationship  and the NSP/MRTB relationship be further improved in all ramifications.

6.That the NSP should within the stipulated time frame come up with a position paper on the issue of rotational leadership in departments.

7.That the tune and lyrics of the NSP anthem  as presented by Mr Taiwo Ologun of the committee tasked with the assignment was a generally acceptable one but should be worked on further to fine tune the version as presented.

8. That the NSP’s commitment to commence a clinical physiotherapy residency training programme in Nigeria has taken off with the inauguration of the governing board in April of 2013. The necessary process of recruitment of fellows by election is already taking due course. The NPPCN Governing Board include:

NPPCN Council Chairman and Members                 

Prof. Matthew O. B. Olaogun President

Col. (Dr.) Paschal Mogbo Vice-President

Revd. Adeolu O. Jaiyesimi Registrar

Mal. Garba Faggae

Dr. (Mrs.) Dapo Taiwo

Dr. (Mrs.) Bridget Birabi

Mr. Tokunbo Odunowo

Dr. Jide Olawale secretary

Ms. Iyabo Okulaja Treasurer

Prof. Sunday R. A. Akinbo

Dr. Michael Egwu

Dr. Sam. Ibeneme

9.    That the NSP is and will continue to be of good standing with the World physiotherapy body, the World Conference for Physical Therapy (WCPT) and be well represented at the Regional body WCPT-Africa as a general consensus statement. The leadership position within the West Africa Physiotherapy Union (WAPU) affairs manned by Dr UAC Okafor has been effectively executed so far but we need to capitalize on our position in the region.

10. The nominees for the Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy Award for 2014 were presented and approved by the general house.

11. That the 54th Annual Scientific Conference and General Meeting will take place in Lokoja, Kogi State in 2014.

Bakare Ummukulthoum

Public Relations Officer

Addendum: Please kindly note Kogi State has since indicated incapacitation to host the conference post-AGM hence Delta State is now taking over the responsibility and are the new hosts for the 54th Annual Scientific Conference and General Meeting.