Unilorin inducts 32 veterinary graduates, tasks them on disease control, food security

The University of Ilorin on Monday inducted 32 graduands of its Faculty of Veterinary Medicine into the veterinary profession, with a charge to contribute to Nigeria’s food security, public health and disease control.

Speaking at the faculty’s eighth oath-taking and induction ceremony, the Dean of Veterinary Medicine, Professor Salihu Ameen, stressed the importance of veterinarians in combating zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance and challenges affecting livestock production.

He said veterinary medicine went beyond treating animals to protecting human lives, improving livestock productivity and safeguarding communities against diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

“Veterinary medicine is not merely about treating animals; it is about protecting life”, he said.

The Dean urged the new veterinarians to uphold professional integrity, pursue lifelong learning, practise with compassion and embrace entrepreneurship, identifying livestock production, poultry, aquaculture, veterinary pharmaceuticals and diagnostic services as potential areas for enterprise.

He also called on them to adapt to emerging technologies, including biotechnology, genomics, telemedicine and advanced diagnostics, saying the modern veterinarian must be a researcher, innovator, communicator and problem-solver.

Professor Ameen also said that the faculty was working towards expanding the services of its Veterinary Teaching Hospital beyond the university environment to communities and villages across Kwara State and neighbouring states.

He said the initiative was aimed at strengthening veterinary healthcare, clinical training, research and community service.

The Dean also announced that construction of a 400-seat collapsible lecture theatre was ongoing to improve the faculty’s teaching and learning environment.

Professor Ameen urged the new veterinarians to protect the reputation of the university and their profession wherever they are.

Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Moji Taibat Bakare-Odunola, urged the graduands to uphold the values of the institution as they begin their professional careers.

“Remember, we are called better by far for a reason”, she said.

Inducting the new veterinarians, the President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Professor Mathew Adamu, who was represented by the Registrar of the Council, Dr Oladotun E. Fadipe, charged the inductees to be disciplined and to be the best wherever they are.

Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Farm Alert and keynote speaker, Dr Kayode Femi, advised the new veterinarians to equip themselves with the necessary skills and tools to deliver effective services.

He said academic knowledge alone did not guarantee success, stressing that graduates needed to develop their capacity to apply what they had learnt and be ready for any challenge that came their way.

“What you have been given as knowledge does not automatically give you success. What makes you succeed is the value you place on the knowledge and how you equip yourself to deliver service”, he said.