University of Ibadan Launches Nigeria's First Physiotherapy Faculty

On August 31, 2026, the University of Ibadan's Senate voted to establish Nigeria's first Faculty of Physiotherapy, elevating the existing Department of Physiotherapy to full faculty status. This new faculty, part of the College of Medicine, represents a major advancement in the structure and teaching of physiotherapy at one of Nigeria's oldest universities.

The roots of the physiotherapy program trace back to October 1957 when Miss S. M.

Evans assessed Nigeria's readiness for physiotherapy training. The Senate approved a three-year degree program in May 1964, with the first students admitted in October 1966.

Over the years, the program evolved, achieving departmental status in 1981 and expanding its offerings to include a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and a Doctor of Physiotherapy. The new Faculty of Physiotherapy will consist of five departments and aims to become a world-class training and research center, focusing on high-quality education and interdisciplinary work to advance the profession across West Africa.