MEDICAL RADIOGRAPHY EDUCATION & PRACTICE IN NIGERIA with Prof Mark Okeji

Описание: To become a Radiographer in Nigeria today, one has to go through University and get a degree in Radiography.


Radiography education started in the 1940s in South West Nigeria via a diploma training program later known to be as the Federal School of Radiography. It was then the sole school that produced radiographers in the country. Graduates from the school graduated with a diploma certificate in radiography (DCR).


In 1982/1983 two more schools started Bachelor of Science (BSc) programs in radiography. It was a good change in the right direction. There were calls to stop the DCR program, and after years of deliberating the program was finally stopped in 2004. The BSc Radiographers are also known as ‘Medical Imaging Scientists’ in Nigeria. The BSc programs offered by the Universities cover all fields in radiology, and the graduates are well equipped and standard. They are taught by Radiographers with PhDs Degrees in the field and Professors in Radiology, and start with basic pure and medical sciences. Of course one has to get at least an Ordinary level credit (5) in high school examinations at one sitting, as well pass with average marks in the University Matriculation Examination before being offered a place in the University to study Radiography. Today there over five Universities in Nigeria that offer Radiography courses for a BSc degree.


The Radiographers Registration Board of Nigeria (RRBN) is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring, training, registration and licensing of qualified radiographers to operate and practice in Nigeria. To become a Radiographer, after the five years BSC program supervised by RRBN, one registers with the board and goes for mandatory one year internship at a well equipped hospital that has been cleared by the board. There are over 700 radiographers trained and registered to practice in Nigeria, with a little over 50 % of them BSc holders. They work in various tertiary health institutions, Universities, state government and private owned hospitals across Nigeria. RRBN also conducts seminars, trainings and other continuous professional development courses for Radiographers. http://www.idcsig.org/page29.html


LETS HEAR FROM Prof. Okeji, Mark Chukwudi
He completed his Primary Education in 1981 at Agai Primary School Onitsha and secondary


school at Our Lady’s High School Onitsha in 1986. He was the School’s Senior Prefect.


He gained admission to the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1986 and graduated


with B.Sc (Hons) Radiography in 1992. He went ahead to obtain M.Sc (2000) and PhD


(2010) in Radiography from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He had distinction in his


Thesis and was the Faculty’s best. He was the first to obtain a PhD in Radiography from any


department of Radiography in Nigeria and indeed West Africa.


He was appointed into the Department of Radiography and Radiological Sciences, University


of Nigeria as a Lecturer II in 2006, and rose through the ranks to become a Professor in 2017.


He had worked as a clinical Radiographer at National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu from


1993 to 2006, where he rose to the rank of Assistant Chief Radiographer.


Professor Okeji has published over forty five journal articles in reputable international and


national scholarly journals in areas of Medical Imaging, Radiation Protection and Dosimetry


and Environmental Protection.


His areas of specialization are Medical Imaging, Radiation and environmental Protection and


Dosimetry. His current area of research is Radiation and Environmental Protection, Cancer


Management and Advocacy.


Professor Okeji had been honoured twice as the best academic staff of the Faculty of Health


Sciences and Technology of University of Nigeria. He was a member of University of


Nigeria Postgraduate Board and over fifteen University Committees.


He is currently the President of African Radiography Forum (ARF) and a Council member of


International Society of Radiographers and Radiologic Technologists (ISRRT).


He is a visiting Professor, University of Health and Allied Sciences Ho, Ghana. An External


Examiner to Makerere University, Uganda, National University of Science and Technology


Zimbabwe, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa among others.


He is a member of many National and International professional Associations including,


ARN, ISRRT, PACORI, ARF.


Prof Okeji is married and the marriage is blessed with four children. He is a devout Catholic


and a member of the Knight of St. John International (KSJI).


His hobbies include reading, travelling and listening to music.