Livestock Production: NAAHHT urges govt to encourage animal health technologists

The Nigerian Association of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists (NAAHHT), Oyo State chapter, has called on government at all levels to always encourage them so that the Nigerian livestock industry can function optimally.

Speaking on behalf of other members, Prince Olaolu Adetunji Laoye, while featuring as speaker during this year’s retreat of the association held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital with the theme: ”The Cushioning Impacts Of Animal Health Technologists In The Livestock Industry In Nigeria Today”, noted that the role of animal health technologists in the livestock industry cannot be overemphasised.

Laoye said: ”The livestock industry in Nigeria today is almost on the verge of collapse. In fact, everything works against the poultry and the entire livestock industry. You will discover that the cost of protein in Nigeria is getting higher and higher. This is because it is very difficult to sustain the industry.

“We cannot fold our arms and sleep over it, if the industry is down, we are out of relevance. In essence, we are using this year’s retreat to prepare our minds for the challenges which lie ahead in this year 2024 and beyond to see how we can brace up to be able to play our part in best possible to ensure that this industry does not collapse.”

He, therefore, called on government at all levels particularly the Federal Government to try as much as possible to always encourage animal health technologists by giving them roles to play in goverment’s activities which has to do with livestock so that they can contribute their quota meaningfully.

Also speaking during the event, Chairman NAAHHT, Oyo State chapter, Mr Olayinka Oluwatoyin, said the significant of the retreat is to reemphasise the core responsibilities of members of the association and to also bring together the different segments within the professional body such as students, lecturers, reseachers and other professionals so that solutions can be proffered to the challenges being faced in the livestock industry.