The 2025 Summit of the Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN) witnessed a powerful keynote address by legal luminary and Vice Chancellor of Imo State University, Prof. U.U. Chukwumaeze, SAN. Speaking on Thursday to a packed audience of professionals and regulators, Prof. Chukwumaeze emphasized the urgent need for legal reform, ethical regulation, and collaborative action to improve eye health care delivery in Nigeria.
In a thought-provoking presentation titled “Strengthening the Legal and Regulatory Framework for Optometric Practice in Nigeria,” the Senior Advocate of Nigeria underscored the critical intersection between law, health policy, and professional ethics. He noted that the increasing burden of visual impairment in Nigeria demanded not just clinical competence but also robust governance and ethical oversight.
“Health is a constitutional right,” Prof. Chukwumaeze declared, referencing Section 17(3)(d) of the 1999 Constitution which mandates the state to ensure adequate medical and health facilities for all. He argued that this provision obliges both government and professional bodies to uphold the highest standards in regulating eye care services.
The keynote addressed pressing issues such as quackery, unethical advertising, and jurisdictional conflicts among medical professionals, calling for legislative updates and stronger enforcement mechanisms. Prof. Chukwumaeze also advocated for increased stakeholder synergy between optometrists, ophthalmologists, legal experts, and policymakers to resolve conflicts in scope of practice and align regulatory efforts with global best practices.
“Regulatory bodies must be proactive, not reactive,” he cautioned, urging ODORBN to build a dynamic legal framework that anticipates challenges posed by technological advances, tele-optometry, and cross-border practice.
The keynote struck a chord with participants, many of whom lauded the erudite address as a call to action for reform. The 2025 Summit, themed “Vision 2030: Advancing Eye Health Through Regulation and Innovation,” continues this week with workshops, technical sessions, and strategic policy discussions.
Prof. Chukwumaeze’s address has since been widely circulated among health sector stakeholders, reaffirming his role not just as a legal scholar but as a strong advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration in public service.
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