Dear Esteemed Members of NOA,
May I use this auspicious moment to congratulate each and every one of us for making it to the Month of June 2024. We have come to the half of the year and 11th Month since our administration started from July 23rd 2023.
It is a thing of joy that by the time we clock one year in office, we can look back and with every sense of humility, thank God for the modest achievements we have recorded so far.
Before our time, NOA had been like the children of biblical Israel, the church in the wilderness, but presently, we have crossed over the Jordan river, have established a house of our own and are putting in place all institutional structures for administrative, financial, economic and social stability and sustainability.
Our past heroes had worked like biblical Moses, now the work of Joshua is to fight to establish our people in their own land and make sure that all the covenant of our leaders were kept and established.
When a man does not know where he is going, every where looks like his destination and when a purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable, but we know our purpose and by God’s grace, we have a target destination to give NOA a glorious future and satisfy our expectations and hope of a rewarding career. We are poised to unravel all hidden talents among members and cultivate resolute determination to consolidate eye care in the mainstream health care at all levels of health care in Nigeria, we shall start with primary healthcare, hence the theme of our 2024 conference; The Optometrist; an indispensable Partner in Primary Healthcare.
We have started with financial empowerment, gainful employment, entrepreneurship and business development projects and with the ratifications we obtained from House of Delegates and your anticipated backing, we will soon inaugurate the NOA Investment Company and the NOA Foundations Advisory Board.
We are happy to note the elevation of ABSU Optometry Department to a Faculty with our designated Postgraduate college disciplines as component departments.
The first batch of equipment for our Vision Centers are now in our custody at head office and the donor support implementing team have started facility visits. Afterwards, construction and mobilization of the equipment for the 10 vision earmarked for the first phase will take off.
Our customized ID Card, done in partnership with Providus bank is a novel initiative that promises to add value to our brand and prestige as well as guarantee economic emancipation.
For the first time in history, we have sold out all our exhibition booths two months before conference. We have recorded impressive number of registrants and 100 exhibitors for the 2024 NOA conference at last count in May, 2024. You have to be part of this conference.
I am happy to announce that three prominent experts will feature in our workshops at the conference. They include;
Dr Dave Pravinkumar, a Consultant Retinal surgeon with Thellish Eye center Abuja who will be taking us on Vitro-retinal Optometry workshop.
Prof. Fasina from Department of Ophthalmology, UCH IBadan, will teach on Anterior segment/Ocular emergencies.
The renowned, Prof. Nail Strang, a professor of Binocular Vision and Head of Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Research at Glasgow Caledonian University, Scotland will be joining our FOM team to handle Binocular Vision therapy workshop. It is worthy to note that Prof.Strang who is also is an Optometrist Assessors with the General Optical Council, UK
We shall have a panel session on AI and Teleoptometry anchored by our Dr. Uche Osuagwu from Australia and the panel of seasoned Optometrists including, Dr. Sandra Block , The WCO President.
There are other interesting topics and posters lined out for you at
Oluyole 24 and it promises to be a very rewarding conference. All arrangements are timely and meticulously packaged for a seamless event.