By Steve Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Government has stressed the need for continuous capacity building and strengthening of policies on dairy and animal production in the Nigeria.
Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, who stated this on Wednesday at the second induction and oath taking of Veterinary graduates of University of Ilorin, noted that human lives revolve around what we eat for survival and what enhances productivity.
The Deputy Governor said Veterinary doctors have critical roles to play in ensuring that animals are healthy and safe for human consumption in order to free the country from zoonotic diseases and other diseases like Tuberculosis, while explaining that: “Livestock industry is filled with a lot of opportunities and it also takes an eminent place in achieving food security.
“Let me quickly say that your induction today is the beginning of your success if you take the right and quick decisions on your next move after today.
“The theme for this year’s induction, Untapped potential in the Nigerian Livestock sector: Prospects for young Vets is apt and germane in view of challenges in the Livestock industry in particular and Agricultural sector in general. This, I believe, will lessen the fears of the young Vets and open their eyes and minds to the opportunities in the Livestock industry” he added.
Mr Alabi lamented that Nigeria with her arable land and water is not self sufficient in animal production as the Nation still imports animals from neighbouring countries at high rates to meet local needs while foods of animal origin are equally being sourced from outside the country by wealthy individuals.
The Deputy Governor, who stated that Nigeria has better advantage to explore the Livestock industry, meet the protein needs of the citizenry and earn foreign exchange through export to international markets, said the present administration is aware of farmer-herder conflicts across the country, noting that Kwara which is known for its peaceful and harmonious nature would embark on all inclusive policies that would put it at vantage position for Livestock business.
Mr Alabi announced that the State would soon begin the school feeding programme for pupils in public schools as Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has forwarded a bill on Kwara State Social Investment Programme to the State House of Assembly and this, he said, would not only address the menace of malnutrition, but also boost Livestock business in the state.
The Deputy Governor said, in 2018, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) warned that Nigeria’s livestock industry might struggle under record pressure by 2050 if it remains passive to bridging its supply gaps, and therefore urged the Young Vets to see beyond the white collar jobs by exploring opportunities in the Livestock industry, especially with the increasing demand for livestock-based foods.
The Deputy Governor assured that the government of Malam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq would give the necessary support to enable them carry out their professional duties in the state.
“This administration is ready to collaborate with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) and relevant bodies to achieve zero transmission of diseases from animal to man”, he assured.
Mr Alabi appealed to the Veterinary Council of Nigeria to as a matter of urgency widen its monitoring mechanism to ensure that only qualified persons are into veterinary practice in Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Professor Sulyman Age Abdulkareem charged the graduands to be exemplary in their conduct and commended the vision of the founding fathers of the faculty.
Professor Abdulkareem said the occasion demonstrated the University’s commitment to providing world class veterinary doctors who would go on to contribute meaningfully to the treatment of animals.
The Vice Chancellor who also congratulated the graduands charged them to go out and make the university and their parents proud by making a difference in the profession by protecting the lives and dignity of animals.
Admitting the new sm16 graduands into the profession, the acting Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Dr Josiah Kantiyok represented by Dr John Garuba explained that the essence of the induction is to place new doctors under obligation and record their names into register of all Medical Veterinary practitioners in Nigeria.
Dr Kantiyok also advised the graduands to uphold the rules and regulations of the Council, update their knowledge regularly which he said would enable them to be successful in the profession.
Leave a Reply