In a recent address, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, painted a stark picture of the threats besieging Nigeria’s food security. Speaking at the 59th Annual Congress of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) in Lagos State, the Minister highlighted a litany of challenges, including insecurity, flooding, zoonotic diseases, and drought.
Presiding over the event, the Minister underscored the need for a united front among stakeholders in the livestock sub-sector to tackle these issues. He drew attention to the escalating threats posed by climate change, the rise in transboundary animal diseases, re-emerging zoonotic diseases, natural disasters, insecurity, and the ongoing farmer-herder clashes in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwu-Olu, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Ruth Olusanya, urged the veterinary profession to collaborate with the Lagos Government, given the state’s status as Nigeria’s largest consumer of livestock. He also advocated for the use of social media as a platform to raise awareness about their activities.
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Prince S. J. Samuel, Chairman of Origin Tech Group and the event’s keynote speaker, urged veterinarians to adapt to the changing times, marked by climate change and modernization. He challenged them to work in tandem with the human health and environmental sectors to enhance public health.
Dr. Ken Opara, the President and Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), emphasized the pivotal role of veterinarians in ensuring the health and welfare of animals. He proposed the use of data sharing for economic growth, the digitization of veterinary activities through telemedicine, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnosing and treating animal diseases.
NVMA President, Dr. Olutoyin Adetuberu, rallied members to take a leading role in public health, guaranteeing food safety, and fostering a harmonious relationship between humans and animals.