NSP announces Prof Nwuga's demise

The President and governing Council of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) with heavy heart, but with submission to the will of the Almighty God, wish to formally announce the demise of a former President of the Society, a beloved father of the Physiotherapy profession, here in Nigeria and abroad and African first Professor of Physiotherapy, Professor VCB Nwuga.
 

Professor Vincent Babatunde Chukumeka Nwuga was born on April 22, 1939 in Enugu, Nigeria to Mr Christopher Aniemeka Nwuga from Umuezei quarters, a genealogical family of Idumogei family and Mrs Agness Nwuga (Nee Okolo) from Umuago quarters both in Asaba in Oshimili Local Government Area in the then Western Region of Nigeria (which became, Mid-West, Bendel states, and presently Delta State of Nigeria). 
 

Nwuga’s parents relocated to Lagos from Enugu when was barely two weeks old. He therefore spent his childhood and early adulthood in Lagos. This immensely contributed to his diverse cultural perspectives to life. His ancestry Igbo last-named, ‘Nwuga’ may disguise his deep Yoruba cultural immersion. In fact, his middle name is ‘Babatunde’, a Yoruba name. 

Nwuga is the first of seven other siblings; four brothers including Anthony, Okenyi and Thomas (late) and four sisters, Ifeanyi, Justina, Nwabuego and Ononeyi. Nwuga lived  most part of his life in Western parts of Nigeria including, Lagos, Osogbo, Ile-Ife and its environs, only paying occasional visits to Asaba his ancestral home.
 

EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL ADVENTURES

Nwuga attended Holy Cross Catholic Primary School (1945-1952), and St. Gregory’s College Lagos (1953-1958) for his secondary (high) school education. Upon passing his Cambridge School Certificate, he proceeded to the United Kingdom in 1961 for his Higher School Certificate in Physics, Biology and Chemistry at the Polytechnic, Harrogate, in Yorkshire.
 

Nwuga attended the Royal Herbert Hospital School of Physiotherapy in Woolwich, and became a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP).  Nwuga proceeded to Canada where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy (BPT) in 1971, and a Master's degree in Physical Medicine in 1974 from the United State of America. Under the mentorship of the late Professor Nwuga completed his PhD at the  University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria under Professor T. Adesanya Ige Grillo. Nwuga completed his PhD work in 2.5 years, compared to average 4 years completion time. His meteoric rise in the academia culminated in his becoming the first African Professor of Physiotherapy. He is the progenitor of the world acclaimed Nwugarian Technique for the management of Low Back Pain. 

Though physically gone, Prof. V.C.B. Nwuga's works cannot but keep his memory alive. Blessed are the memory of the beloved. May his soul rest in perfect peace.

 

BURIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE LATE EMERITUS PROFESSOR V.C.B. NWUGA
 

July- Thursday 23rd -Foundation Lecture- 10am- 2pm Conference Centre, OAU

July -Thursday 23rd Wake keep/Tributes Service: 5.30pm- Catholic Church, OAU

July -Friday 24th Burial service/Internmemnt: 10am- Catholic Church, OAU/OAU Cemetery

Entertainment; 1pm- Ogunbanjo Hall, opposite Conference Centre OAU.

Dr Olumide DADA, Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy, Department of Physiotherapy, University Health Service, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. Tel: 234-802-337-3247