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Chibuzor Emejor
Dr. Moses Arokoyo, President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association(NVMA), has identified insecurity, disease burden, weak service delivery systems, climate pressures, and inequitable access to veterinary services as some of the factors limiting the potential of the livestock sector in Nigeria.
Arokoyo stated this at the 2026 Veterinary Leadership Summit organised by NVMA in Abuja.
He however, expressed optimism that the outcome of the two-day Summit would strengthen livestock systems, not only in Nigeria but globally.
He pointed out that the annual summit was deliberately structured to promote diversity, equity, and inclusiveness, while ensuring that women and young professionals from all regions are empowered to contribute meaningfully to national animal health outcomes.
Stakeholders in the livestock sub-sector, including the Veterinary Council of Nigeria(VCN) in their separate goodwill messages, emphasised the need for veterinary professionals to work together to complement the Federal Government’s drive for sustainable livestock development.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security,Senator Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi,
commended the leadership of the NVMA for organising the Summit.
Abdullahi, represented by the Chairperson of the Cocvadion and a renowned veterinarian,Dr Lami Lombin, revealed that efforts were in progress to harmonise the Veterinary Surgeon Act and the para-animal Health Professional through a bill .
He challenged veterinarians to rise to the occasion,support themselves in diverse ways and ensure that the banner of the profession is maintained and raised high.
Thembinkosi Ramuthivheli,Business Development and Engagement Manager and Edith Moroti, Associate Director, Outreach & Partnerships of GALVmed, called on veterinarians to fight animal diseases burden in Nigeria .
The duo called for effective collaboration among the professionals to ensure rapid growth in the industry.
The President of Veterinary Council of Nigeria(VCN), Professor Matthew Adamu, emphasised the need to give Dr Arokoyo another chance to lead the veterinarians to the promised land.
He maintained that his tenure has transformed the profession in the last two years.
He called on State Chapters of the NVMA to work assiduously and support the Association in the interest of the profession.
The Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Ishiyaku Mohammed, said veterinary professionals have a critical role to play in the realisation of the present administration’s agenda on food security, wealth creation, employment generation, and national resilience.
Mohammed reminded participants that this responsibility rests squarely on their shoulders as professionals, stressing that the success of livestock development initiatives depends largely on their expertise and commitment.
According to him, the Tinubu administration created a separate Ministry of Livestock Development to mitigate the effects of climate change, rising temperatures, desertification, changing rainfall patterns, flooding, and increased competition over natural resources, factors that are significantly altering livestock production systems.
The Permanent Secretary further stated that the Federal Government has set an achievable target of increasing the livestock sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product from the current 32 billion dollars to 74 billion dollars by the year 2035.
He maintained that this target cannot be achieved, if the country continues to lose animals to preventable diseases and inefficient production systems.
Mohammed assured that the Federal Government would continue to collaborate closely with professional bodies to ensure that public policies are guided by expert knowledge and aligned with global best practices.
