The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy & The World Confederation of Physical Therapy

The existence of the NSP was made known in 1960 to the World Confederation for Physical Therapy with the view of becoming a member of the World Body.

On application, the, the NSP was granted provisional membership in 1966. It was invited in 1967 to the 5th International Congress of the WCPT which took place in Melbourne, Australia. Three NSP members: Messrs Ajao, Kehinde as well as Mrs. Aboderin were present at the memorable congress where Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy was formally admitted as full member of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy on the afternoon of Thursday 18th May, 1967. Since then, members of the of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy had attended the International Congress held by the World Body. Some even occupied positions in the Executive Committee. Scientific papers were presented by our members as far back as 1970 in Amsterdam; 1974 in Montreal, Canada; 1978 in Tel Aviv, Israel; 1982 in Stockholm, Sweden, 1987 in Sydney, Australia, 1991 in London, United Kingdom; 1995 in Washington D.C., United States of America; 1999 at Yokohama, Japan.

The NSP have had the privilege to welcome past President of WCPT, Mr. Eugene Michaels in our midst in 1975. He then launched the NSP’s booklet on “Guidelines on the Training of Physiotherapist in Nigeria”. The same was true with past Secretaries of WCPT in the persons of Miss M.J. Nelson M.B.E, 1968 and Miss E. M McKay 1979

The NSP was also opportune to have Miss M. Hollis, M.B.E., run a course on P.N. F at the Collegeof Medicine, LagosUniversityin June 1977. Miss Hollis was the Principal of the School Physiotherapy, Bradford, England.

PAN AFRICAN CONGRESS/AFRICA PHYSIOTHERAPY ORGANIZATION
The First Pan-African Physiotherapy Congress was held in the Old Great Hall, Collegeof Medicine, and LUTH by the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy on May 28th to June 3rd, 1979. The Congress was a processor to the African Physiotherapy Organisation. The Executive Committee of the Organisationmet in Cairo, Egyptand Mr. Odia as the Newsletter Editor.

THE COVETED DECREE 38
The long awaited recognition of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy as an independent registration body was achieved in 1989 when decree No. 38 on Medical Rehabilitation Therapy was promulgated.