LIVESTOCK REFORMS AND THE PROPOSED MINISTRY OF LIVESTOCK; VETERINARY COUNCIL VISITS HE DR ABDULLAHI GANDUJE

The National Committee on Livestock Reforms, headed by the chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, has no doubt created some palpable excitement in the Veterinary committee in recent days.

As a proactive Council, the President, AIG Aishatu Abubakar Baju DVM, Ph.D., FCVSN, OON, mni paid a courtesy visit to the national leader

 

Her remarks:

 On behalf of the Veterinary Council Board and the entire Veterinary community, we want to commend you on your vision in the livestock sector in Kano State during your tenure as the executive Governor. These resulted in farmers' adoption of improved production practices leading to increased productivity as well as introducing ranching thereby enabling farmers to permanently settle down thereby mitigating farmers' herders’ conflicts among others. All these laudable initiatives/efforts your excellency, led to the creation of job opportunities for Veterinarians in Kano State.

 

Similarly, and most importantly sir, we want to commend your effort in organizing the national conference on livestock reforms and mitigation of associated conflicts in February this year, whose recommendations are in tandem with Mr. President’s vision on the livestock sector this has led to Mr President’s directive on the formation of the presidential committee to study and implement the recommendations of the conference.

Consequently, the escalation of this vision to the national level will bring about increased livestock productivity leading to enhanced food security and mitigation of associated conflict between herders and farmers. This can result in enhanced livestock value chain development for the teeming population of Nigerians such as milk, meat, eggs, etc. in line with sustainable development goals for eradicating poverty. It will also create job opportunities for Veterinarians and para-veterinary professionals.

 

Your excellency sir, you will also recall that Mr. President at every forum has always made his passion for the development of livestock in the country known, his readiness to work with Veterinarians to change the narratives thereby making Nigeria a net exporter of livestock value chains rather than an importer.

 

Prayers:

1. As a Council, we have come to appreciate and commend these efforts and initiatives and fully align ourselves with Mr President’s aspirations on livestock reforms and development in the country.

 

2. We look forward to the creation of the proposed Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries development by Mr. President and our readiness to ensure the ministry succeeds.

 

3. We also want to assure you that the Veterinary community is fully mobilized and ready to key into Mr. President’s vision on livestock.

 

4. We hope that the Veterinary Council and the association will be adequately represented in the presidential committee.

 

Finally, we also want to bring the notice of His Excellency that the Veterinary Council of Nigeria regularly organizes continuing education for its members where topical issues of National and international discussions that concern livestock and to use this opportunity to invite HE to give the keynote address at the plenary in our following continuing education.