A Professor of Neurological Physiotherapy, University of Ibadan, Professor Tal-hatu Kolapo Hamzat has formally joined the race to become the 13th Vice Chancellor of the Premier University.
The Ibadan-born scholar studied Physiotherapy at the prestigious Nigeria premier University of Ibadan and obtained a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree with Second Class-Upper Division in March 1994.
Hamzat belongs to the first group of physiotherapy graduates Nigeria to be officially inducted into physiotherapy profession on Friday 18 March, 1994.
Professor Tal-hatu Kolapo Hamzat obtained a PhD in Neurological Physiotherapy as the first person to obtain a PhD degree in physiotherapy from any University in West Africa.
On October 1, 2009 as a high flyer he was promoted from the rank of Senior lecturer to the grade of Professor of Physiotherapy, becoming the first professor of Neurological Physiotherapy in Africa at the age of 39 years, the youngest to attain a full professor of physiotherapy status in Africa.
See declaration speech below:
My dear seniors and colleagues. I thank you all for your kind words of encouragement and prayers.
I am able to confirm that indeed I have applied for the position of the VC of UI as advertised. I applied as a member of staff who satisfied the eligibility criteria advertised in many national dailies and online.
With all humility and sense of responsibility,
We must not join those who wish to reduce the leadership of our one and only University of Ibadan to such trivialities. Otherwise we would inadvertently be contributing to unfortunate politicisation of the leadership of our greatest University or the Nigerian University system.
I am sure you will agree with me that UI is a national heritage. Those of us who graduated from UI know full well that we all got our degrees from UI without anyone interested in where we hailed from or what we professed.
That is the global University of Ibadan. It has remained so and must remain so. Having said that, I say Amen!!! to all your prayers and shall appreciate your including me and this drive in your private prayers.
After all, God has dominion over all affairs of men (and women). Once again I truly am grateful to you all. God bless us and our plans. Amen.
I am yours – TK Hamzat
