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Professor Gabriel Odia Passes On to Glory

Please Pay Tribute to Professor Odia Online at: http://profodia.muchloved.com

Professor Gabriel Ikhidero Odia, the Pioneer Head, and Founder of the Physiotherapy Program at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos

Dear Colleagues,

With heavy hearts, but gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing to eternal glory of Professor Gabriel Ikhidero Odia, the Pioneer Head, and Founder of the Physiotherapy Program at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos. Professor Odia passed on Monday, December 7, 2015.

Professor Gabriel Ikhidero Odia was born on the 30th April, 1934. He attended St. Peters Primary School Benin City, (1941-1945) and Igbobi College (1946-1951). He was a graduate of the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada and he served in various professional and academic positions at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, and the College of Medicine, University of Lagos and Lagos University Teaching Hospital where he was an Honorary Consultant Physiotherapist. He pioneered the physiotherapy training at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos.

Professor Odia belongs to several professional bodies including Member, Canadian Physiotherapy Association, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (Great Britain); Member Society for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled, Member International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics, and past Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Physiotherapy.

He is also a Trustee of the Spinal Cord Injuries Association of Nigeria. A keen sportsman and professional Consultant in Sports Medicine, Professor Odia has served in various capacities including Team Physiotherapist, Nigeria Contingent to the 3rd All African Games, Algiers, Moscow Olympics, 4th All African Games, Nairobi, and the Seoul Olympics. He was Secretary, 1980 Africa Cup of Nations Medical Sub-Committee. He is also a founding member of the Sports Medicine Association of Nigeria. He has published many professional and research papers in both National and International Journals. Professor Odia is married with children. He voluntarily retired from the services of the College of Medicine and Lagos University Teaching Hospital in April, 1992 after 35 years of meritorious service.

The Federal Government appointed him as the Pioneer Chairman, Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria in December 2000, a position he held till 2009.

Pa Odia, as we used to call him, will be greatly missed. But his legacy lives on.

Please Pay Tribute to Professor Odia Online at: http://profodia.muchloved.com

Emmanuel B. John, PT, DPT, PhD
Executive Director
Nigeria Physiotherapy Network
 

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Published
02:14:00 08.12.2015