Dr. Joy Legbo is a paediatrician with nearly two decades of clinical practice, currently working within a paediatric neurology unit at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria. Her interest in serving as a Tourette Ambassador in this region is driven by the striking gap she has observed between global best practice and local realities. She trained at the Reference Centre for Tics and Tourette Syndrome, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, under Dr. Andreas Hartmann, former Chair of the European Society for the Study of Tourette Syndrome, gaining specialized clinical expertise in the assessment and management of tic disorders.
During her clinical exposure to movement disorders in Europe, she witnessed how early recognition, multidisciplinary care, and strong community awareness significantly improve outcomes for children with Tourette syndrome. In contrast, many children in Northern Nigeria remain undiagnosed, stigmatized, or misunderstood due to cultural misconceptions and limited access to specialist care. She is motivated to help bridge this gap by promoting awareness, training frontline professionals, empowering families, and advocating for culturally sensitive, evidence-based care tailored to the local context.