President Bola Tinubu has commended renowned healthcare professional and educator, Dr Thompson Oshin, for his decades of distinguished service to Nigeria, describing his contributions to physiotherapy education, advocacy and professional leadership as instrumental in shaping the profession across the country and beyond.
The President gave the commendation in a congratulatory message issued on Thursday by his Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, to mark the centenary birthday of Dr Oshin, regarded as the father of physiotherapy in Nigeria and a pioneer of the profession in Africa.
President Tinubu noted that Dr Oshin dedicated his life to advocacy, teaching and professional leadership, helping to establish standards for physiotherapy education and practice while mentoring generations of physiotherapists who have continued to advance healthcare delivery within and outside Nigeria.
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The President also praised the centenarian for transforming physiotherapy from a hospital-based technical service into a respected university-level profession, laying the foundation for modern physiotherapy education and practice in the country.
He further acknowledged Dr Oshin’s pioneering role in Nigeria’s health sector, including co-founding the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy in 1959 alongside Chief C.A. Ajao, documenting Oja Palsy, designing innovative rehabilitation equipment such as corrective splints and folding wooden crutches, and publishing extensively on physiotherapy, rehabilitation and professional development.
President Tinubu described Dr Oshin’s life as one defined by sacrifice, professionalism, dedication to humanity and hard work, highlighting his numerous philanthropic interventions, including the donation of rehabilitation equipment to hospitals, scholarships for nursing education, endowment of prizes for outstanding physiotherapy students, and support for educational institutions through land and sporting facilities.
The President joined Dr Oshin’s family, friends and the medical community in celebrating the remarkable milestone, thanking him for his enduring service to the nation and praying for many more years of good health and strength.
