IAR&T advocates more veterinarians to handle Nigeria’s large livestock population

THE Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T) Ibadan has said Nigeria needs more veterinarians to take care of its increasing livestock population.

Executive Director of the institute, Professor Veronica Obatolu, stated this recently during the presentation of certificates to 24 veterinary paraprofessionals trained by the institute, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.

Obatolu noted that the population of veterinarians in the country today cannot serve efficiently the livestock producing population.

She added that the seven-month training was organised in order to equip the veterinary paraprofessionals to be able to attend to the basic animal health needs, especially that of the smallholder farmers and rural dwellers’ livestock keepers who rarely have access to veterinarians.

Obatolu further added that there is the need for stakeholders in the animal health sector to collaborate together to ensure a thriving and prosperous livestock industry.

She said: “The Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan forwarded its Expression of Interest (EOI) to provide continuing education training for para-veterinarians in Nigeria, sequel to the FAO announcement on this sometime in August 2023.

“The need to cast the net wide to bring in more veterinary paraprofessionals to livestock healthcare training cannot be overemphasised. It is a known fact that the population of veterinarians in the country today cannot serve efficiently the livestock producing population.

“Hence, the need to equip the veterinary paraprofessionals to be able to attend to the basic animal health needs especially that of the smallholder farmers and rural dwellers livestock keepers who rarely have access to veterinarians.

“The stakeholders in the animal health sectors from private livestock companies, Veterinary Pharmaceuticals, Research Institutes, NGO’s and government livestock agencies must more than ever before, collaborate together to ensure a thriving and prosperous livestock industry.

“About seven months ago, 25 veterinary paraprofessionals (VPP) sponsored by the FAO for training on “Growing your business through preventive livestock healthcare” were exposed to various advanced knowledge in animal preventive healthcare delivery system and competencies in business skills.

“The blended approach of the training brings to bare the current day realities without neglecting the urgent need for practical sessions where, communication skills and other clinical processes were painstakingly taught and demonstrated.

Country Team leader, FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Dr Muhinda Otto, speaking with journalists shortly after the event, noted that the training was organised to boost the capacity of veterinary paraprofessionals.

“We looked at the training institute and collaborated with IAR&T to train the paraprofessionals. To boost their capacity because most farmers especially in the rural areas do not have access to veterinary doctors. The Commissioner for Agriculture, Oyo State Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye expressed his profound appreciation to FAO  and IAR&T for their efforts in the development of Agriculture in the pace setter State.

The event had in attendance Global Project Coordinator, FAO Africa Region, Dr. Holly Hufnagel, Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Professor Adebayo Bamire, who was represented by Deputy-Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Technology), Professor Akinyemi Akanni and President, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, AIG Dr. Aishatu Abubakar Baju.

Others are: Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in Oyo state, Bar. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Christiana Abioye and Dr Gani Enahoro, Senior Advisor, VPP project.

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