The Veterinary Council of Nigeria, VCN, held its 2027 Staff Retreat in Abuja, bringing together staff of the Council for training, capacity building, and strategic engagement. In attendance were various dignitaries, such as Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, the Honourable Minister of Livestock, who was represented by his aide, Dr Oladotun Fadipe, the Ag. Registrar, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Prof. Matthew Adamu, and the President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Prof. Folorunso Fasina, who presented a keynote on the role of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria to the audience.
The retreat focused on strengthening professionalism, enhancing staff capacity, and ensuring the Council remained effective in regulating veterinary practices and supporting livestock development in Nigeria. Professor Folorunso Fasina said that for regulatory institutions to remain relevant, staff must be ethical, professional, and committed to adding value.
Strong institutions are built by disciplined and dedicated personnel. “Nigerian veterinarians are among the best-trained veterinarians in Africa. Unfortunately, we are denied the equal opportunity to implement these best practices outside our country.
“One, if the VCN does its role, which we know they are trying, and is able to regulate the practice very well and get the best graduates out in terms of the quality as well as the qualitative aspect of the training, it means that our graduates then have opportunities to operate even beyond our immediate environment,” he said.
Professor Fasina encouraged staff to see themselves as a driving force behind the credibility and impact of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria.
The registrar of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Dr Oladotun Fadipe, said the retreat is an opportunity to strengthen internal capacity, improve workplace safety, and reposition the Council to deliver effectively on its mandate, adding that staff development, discipline, and safety are key to effective service delivery at the Council.
“Like I always say, speed is of no essence when you’re on the wrong direction. So, as we want to start the year, a lot has happened last year. It is no news that for two years, the Veterinary Council was without funding, and of course, last year we were not able to develop a strategic plan for the Veterinary Council.
“Again, we also know that for any organisation to succeed, we need to align ourselves with the Renew Hope agenda of the President. Therefore, we said, “Okay, let’s not assume people know.” We did a retreat together last year to develop a strategic plan, but what about the renewal agenda? Is everybody on the same page? So we said, okay, before we start the year, let’s come together and align ourselves with that renewal agenda so that we can deliver on the key deliverables of the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
Dr Samuel Azam of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development said that FLEC vaccines and adulterated veterinary products endanger animal health, food security, and public safety.
“The staff of the council are better informed of what they ought to do to enhance service delivery, because it is the bane of our public service. You need to know exactly what you ought to do, because if you don’t know what you ought to do, it’s going to be very difficult for you to really do it.
“So I think the gamut of what they’ve been taking through gives them a very fair idea as to what they ought to do to be able to be efficient in their services and uplift not just the council, but the veterinary profession and animal healthcare delivery in the country.”
Dr Azam urged vigilance and partnership among agencies to eliminate substandard veterinary products from the market.
“I don’t know if you have heard about antimicrobial resistance. When you pump these birds and other animals with antibiotics, they tend to become resistant to them. And when they resist and resist, you find out that the disease you want to control can never be treated. It poses a health hazard to people who consume it.
“Take, for example, in the abattoir, an animal that is tuberculosis, you know, ravaged, slaughtered. And you send this meat to the market. Who is going to suffer from it? The public.”
Dr Chinnaemeka Joe-Iruo, chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, FCT chapter, said regular training and collaboration among veterinary professionals are essential to advancing the practice and promoting livestock development in Nigeria. The retreats provided a platform for learning, internal dialogue, and renewed staff commitment to advancing the Veterinary Council of Nigeria and the country’s livestock industry.
