The Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN) has given full accreditation to the Doctor of Optometry programme of the University of Ilorin.
A statement by the university’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun disclosed that this followed a re-accreditation exercise carried out by the Board last Thursday and Friday.
In a letter conveying this development to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, the Registrar/CEO of ODORBN, Prof. (Mrs) Ebele Uzodike said that the full accreditation of the Optometry programme is for four academic sessions (2022/2023 to 2026/2027).
The letter, dated 2nd May 2023, stated that to achieve the feat, the university’s Department of Optometry scored 80 per cent in the re-accreditation exercise.
According to the comprehensive score sheet, the Department got 94.4 per cent in Academic Content; 84.4 per cent in Staffing; 74.1 per cent in Physical Facilities; and 72.2 per cent in Library Facilities.
While congratulating the university on the feat, the Board recommended that “more academic staff should be employed; staff motivation should be increased; and there should be upscaling of facilities in view of increasing students’ intake”.
The Board also expressed its readiness for continuous synergy with the University of Ilorin in the training of competent and highly skilled Optometrists of international standard
In his reaction to the development, the Vice Chancellor congratulated the Department of Optometry, saying that “the feat is a clear indication that the system is working”.