The Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN) announced it is poised to improve the quality of eye care services in the country.
Its Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Obinna Awiaka made the revelation at a news conference organized as part of events to mark his 100 days in office.
Awiaka said that 281 optometry graduates were successfully inducted into the board in the past 100 days.
“We have focused on key areas to restructure the ODORBN and improve the quality of eye care services in Nigeria.
”We’ve begun the process of fully digitalising the agency’s operations, and some defaulting clinics and optical laboratories across the country were recently shut down for non-compliance to regulatory standards.
“We have successfully inducted optometry graduates, some of whom have stayed at home for more than two years with no hope of induction.
“The board successfully conducted inductions for graduates in the following Institutions: Imo State University – 185 inductees; Abia State University – 32 inductees; Madonna University – 1 inductee.
“Others include Federal University of Technology, Owerri – I inductee; University of Ilorin – 18 inductees; and Bayero University Kano – 44 inductees,’’ he stated.
Meanwhile, the registrar disclosed that the board had entered into mutually beneficial collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) in order to strengthen its human resources management personnel and customer service relations and marketing.
He noted that through its revenue drive, ODORBN has been able to double its internally generated revenue (IGR) in the third quarter of the year compared to the first and second quarters.
“However, we redesigned the practicing license, the official logo of the board, introduced a new professional seal and stamp, and gave the head office of the agency a facelift,” he added.
Awiaka further said that the official practicing license for optometry could now be obtained in less than 48 hours.
