Recent development of occupational therapy in Nigeria: Challenges and opportunities

ABSTRACT

Occupational therapy (OT) in Nigeria has been practiced only within the mainstream hospital services, rehabilitation centres and special schools between the 1950s and 2013. Little has been done outside these settings, a situation which has limited the prospect of the profession. However, in the recent times, occupational therapists have been fostering a positive change in this area by adopting many effective strategies which impacted the community, created employment and increased the awareness of the profession among the Nigerian people. To review the effective strategies that occupational therapists in Nigeria have been adopting for the increasing impact outside the mainstream, with a view to recommending same for other settings or countries. This case study describes the challenges that confront OT practice in Nigeria and the strategies adopted by Occupational Therapist Association of Nigeria (OTAN) to facilitate the development of OT practice since 2013. Moreover, this article also points out that there has been a significant increase in the relevance of OT in the non-mainstream settings in Nigeria. OT in Nigeria is now witnessing consistent development outside the mainstream, with the renewed commitment of the Executive members of Occupational Therapists Association of Nigeria (OTAN). OTAN has been able to revitalise the profession, visualising and considering the occupational needs of the population. It is thus recommended that OT practitioners, especially those in developing countries explore non-mainstream services and opportunities in their own countries.

KEYWORDS:

• Nigeria
• occupational therapy development
• occupational therapy history

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the following people for their role in different capacities: Prof. M. O. Ibadin (CMD UBTH) and UBTH management for their support for the development of OT, Ms O. Otolorin (pioneer principal of the school of OT, Nigeria), Prof. B. Rajashekar, Dean, Dr S. Shovan, and other faculties, OT Department, School of Allied Health Sciences, SOAHS, Manipal University, India; Patients, students, Mr James I. O. (Computer Analyst), members of staff, OT Department, UBTH for providing the learning opportunities; Dr kit Sinclair for mentoring and special interest in OT development in Nigeria.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Sunday Tayo Eleyinde http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3926-9248

Victoria Amu http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2984-5694