Raji Roqeeb Babatunde, a Nigerian scholar, stands as a testament to an exceptional journey in the realm of Occupational Therapy. His academic pursuit commenced with the completion of a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) at the prestigious Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) in India. This foundational education laid the groundwork for what would evolve into a profound and multifaceted career.
Subsequent to his undergraduate studies, Raji embarked on a transformative six-month internship at the Department of Occupational Therapy. This pivotal experience not only exposed him to a diverse array of medical and paramedical experts but also ignited within him a profound passion for pediatric occupational therapy, particularly focusing on developmental disabilities.
During his internship tenure, Raji actively engaged in research endeavors, co-authoring his inaugural scientific paper on the topic of obesity in collaboration with three esteemed colleagues within the occupational therapy domain. To augment his skill set and specialize in addressing hand injuries, particularly among children, Raji pursued a rigorous one-month hand splinting course at MAHE, working under the expert guidance of Dr. Shovan Saha. These foundational experiences laid the groundwork for his future specialization and dedication to pediatric occupational therapy.
Determined to further his knowledge and expertise, Raji pursued advanced education by enrolling in a Masters in Occupational Therapy (MOT), where he chose to specialize in developmental disabilities. His successful completion of this program marked him as the first Nigerian to achieve this esteemed degree. Armed with this extensive academic background, Raji commenced his professional journey by offering consultancy services for the Excellent Child Support Initiative (ECSI) in Nigeria as a consultant occupational therapist.
Motivated by a profound sense of social responsibility and a deeply felt need to address the lack of accessible occupational therapy services for children due to financial constraints, Raji established his own foundation, the Children Humanity Foundation (CHF). Despite this new endeavor, Raji maintains his involvement and commitment to ECSI, showcasing his dedication to addressing the critical needs of pediatric occupational therapy in Nigeria.
Complementing his professional roles, Raji pursued certification as a Neuro-development Therapy (C/NDT) Practitioner. This involved intensive neuro-developmental training focused on managing children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) and other neuromotor disorders at the esteemed Mary Bridge Hospital in Puyallup, USA. This certification served as a testament to his commitment to advancing his expertise and skill set in the field.
Raji, emerging as a prominent figure in the domain of occupational therapy, directed his research interests towards pivotal areas encompassing play participation, sedentary behaviors, hand injuries, and obesity, both in children and adults. His dedication to advancing the field led to the publication of several scientific papers in esteemed journals. Noteworthy was his presentation of two papers at the Occupational Therapy Australia 30th national conference in Queensland, where he delved into the critical topics of hand injuries and children with disabilities.
Acknowledgment of his unwavering commitment and outstanding research contributions was reflected in the prestigious International Best Researcher Award conferred upon him at the 2023 International Society for Scientific Network (ISSN) award conference in Trichy, India. The award recognized his exceptional publication on “Time Use Patterns Among Children with and without Childhood Obesity,” establishing him as the first Nigerian Occupational Therapist to receive such esteemed recognition. Additionally, Raji represented Nigeria at the 18th International Congress and Exhibition of the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) congress in Paris, where he demonstrated his commitment to global advancement within the field.
