The University of Ibadan (UI) has made history with the approval of a new Faculty of Physiotherapy, marking a significant development in physiotherapy education in Nigeria.
The University Senate approved the transformation of the Department of Physiotherapy into a full-fledged University of Ibadan Faculty of Physiotherapy at its meeting on Monday, August 31, 2026. The development makes the university home to Nigeria’s first Faculty of Physiotherapy.
The announcement is a major milestone for UI Physiotherapy, a programme with a history spanning several decades and a significant contribution to physiotherapy education and professional development in Nigeria.
University of Ibadan Faculty of Physiotherapy Establishment
The history of University of Ibadan Physiotherapy dates back to 1966, making it the oldest university-based physiotherapy training programme in the West African sub-region.
However, Physiotherapy was not always an independent department at UI. Between 1966 and 1971, the programme was administered through the Dean’s Office. From 1971 to 1977, it became part of the Orthopaedic Unit of the Department of Surgery.
Between 1977 and 1981, it operated as a Physiotherapy Unit within the Department of Surgery. In 1981, Physiotherapy finally became a full-fledged department.
The latest development takes the programme another step forward. The UI Faculty of Physiotherapy will now provide a dedicated academic structure for the discipline while remaining within the university’s College of Medicine.
This evolution shows how University of Ibadan Physiotherapy has developed from a small training programme into a major centre for physiotherapy education, research and professional training.
Departments Under the New Faculty
The new Faculty of Physiotherapy in Nigeria will have five departments, according to the University of Ibadan College of Medicine.
They are:
- Department of Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy
- Department of Musculoskeletal/Orthopaedic Physiotherapy
- Department of Neurological Physiotherapy
- Department of Sports and Recreational Physiotherapy
- Department of Occupational Therapy
The departments reflect the different areas in which physiotherapy professionals can specialise. The University of Ibadan Faculty of Physiotherapy will therefore have an academic structure that accommodates several areas of clinical practice, research and training.
The university already offers postgraduate training and research in areas including cardiopulmonary, neurological, orthopaedic, and sports and recreational physiotherapy. The creation of the UI Faculty of Physiotherapy provides an opportunity to further develop these areas.
The Faculty of Physiotherapy in Nigeria Importance
The establishment of the Faculty of Physiotherapy in Nigeria is more than an administrative change.
A dedicated faculty can provide a stronger institutional framework for specialised teaching, clinical training, research, curriculum development and academic collaboration. These are important areas for the continued growth of physiotherapy education.
According to the university, the new structure is expected to strengthen specialised teaching and research while creating opportunities for staff development, student engagement and clinical innovation.
For University of Ibadan Physiotherapy, this could mean greater opportunities to expand research and develop specialised academic programmes.
The development also gives greater institutional visibility to physiotherapy as a health profession and academic discipline.
Benefits of the University of Ibadan Faculty of Physiotherapy to Students
The establishment of the UI Faculty of Physiotherapy could provide several benefits for current and prospective students.
With specialised departments, students may have greater opportunities to learn within a more focused academic environment. The University of Ibadan Faculty of Physiotherapy can also provide a stronger platform for research, clinical education and postgraduate development.
Students interested in areas such as neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory or sports physiotherapy could benefit from an academic environment where these specialisations receive greater institutional attention.
The creation of the Nigeria’s first Faculty of Physiotherapy may also increase the visibility of Physiotherapy among prospective university students considering careers in healthcare.
However, prospective students should not assume that the new structure means they must apply separately to the five departments. The announcement confirms the approval and structure of the faculty but does not announce separate undergraduate admission procedures for each department.
Students seeking admission to University of Ibadan Physiotherapy should continue to rely on official UI and JAMB information for admission requirements and application procedures.
A Historic Development for Physiotherapy Education
The significance of the University of Ibadan Faculty of Physiotherapy becomes clearer when its history is considered.
The University of Ibadan describes its Physiotherapy programme as the oldest university-based physiotherapy training programme in the West African sub-region. More than 900 physiotherapists have graduated from its various programmes, and many physiotherapy programmes in Nigerian universities have been headed by UI alumni.
This long history makes the creation of the Nigeria’s first Faculty of Physiotherapy particularly significant.
Rather than representing the beginning of Physiotherapy education at UI, the new Faculty of Physiotherapy represents the latest stage in the development of a programme that has been training physiotherapists since 1966.
A look at UI Physiotherapy Future
The establishment of the Faculty of Physiotherapy in Nigeria could have implications beyond the University of Ibadan.
A dedicated faculty may create more opportunities for advanced research, specialist education and academic collaboration. It could also contribute to the development of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce by strengthening physiotherapy training.
For University of Ibadan Physiotherapy, the new structure could support further growth in undergraduate and postgraduate education, research and clinical practice.
For students, the Faculty of Physiotherapy offers the prospect of studying within a more specialised academic environment. For researchers and academics, the University of Ibadan Faculty of Physiotherapy provides a stronger institutional platform for developing the discipline.
See: UI Cut Off Mark 2026/2027: Check the Full Departmental Cut-Off Marks
Conclusion
The approval of the University of Ibadan Faculty of Physiotherapy marks an important chapter in the history of physiotherapy education in Nigeria. As Nigeria’s first Faculty of Physiotherapy, it has the potential to strengthen specialised training, research, clinical education and innovation.
For current students, prospective applicants and anyone interested in the future of physiotherapy education, the establishment of the Faculty of Physiotherapy in Nigeria is a development worth watching as the University of Ibadan begins implementing the new faculty structure.
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