The establishment of the School of Occupational Therapy at the Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, University Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, was driven by the need to address a critical gap in rehabilitative care, particularly at the middle-level manpower cadre. This vision was initiated in 2013 by Mr. Eleyinde Sunday Temitayo, then Head of the Occupational Therapy Department at UBTH. Having been actively involved in training Occupational Therapy students from FSOT and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) since 2006, he recognized the necessity of a structured program to train skilled Occupational Therapy Assistants who could work under the supervision of Occupational Therapists.

The idea for the school was first conceived in 2012 as part of a broader development strategy for Occupational Therapy in UBTH. The primary objective was to train competent Occupational Therapy Technicians (Assistants) equipped with the necessary skills to provide therapeutic services and enhance rehabilitative care delivery across the country. Fortunately, the proposal received approval from the then UBTH management, led by the Late Prof. M. O. Ibadin, and the first batch of students commenced studies in October 2013.

Mr. Eleyinde was later joined by Ms. Lashmann Deborah and Ms. Oladipupo, who eventually became the Assistant Coordinator for Academics and the Assistant Coordinator for Field Work, respectively. With contributions from lecturers at the Institute of Health Technology, Occupational Therapists, and medical doctors from UBTH, the program was successfully launched and has since continued to thrive.

To date, the School of Occupational Therapy, UBTH, has trained 135 Occupational Therapy practitioners and currently has 45 students at different levels. Its graduates are making significant contributions to rehabilitation services in government hospitals, including UBTH, private rehabilitation centers, schools, and patients’ homes—both in Nigeria and abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom. Many have pursued higher qualifications, including master’s degrees, further enhancing their expertise and impact.

Much gratitude goes to the past and present management of UBTH—especially the Late Prof. M. O. Ibadin, whose leadership made the school’s establishment a reality, and the current Chief Medical Director, Prof. Darlington Obaseki, for his continued support.

The School of Occupational Therapy, UBTH, remains a trailblazer in the field, gaining recognition from the global Occupational Therapy community. This is evident in its involvement in international rehabilitation projects and the strong network of support it continues to receive. We owe this remarkable progress to the dedication of our team and, ultimately, to the grace of Almighty God.