Agric minister launches digital solutions to combat quackery in veterinary profession
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has launched the Digitized National Veterinary Practice License, the Veterinary App, the Veterinary Seal, and the Geo-Mapping of the Veterinary practice premises in FCT, Abuja.
The launching ceremony was part of the celebration of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) at 70.
The Minister said that the digital solutions were aimed at creating a conducive environment for the transformation of the national animal health and veterinarian practices ecosystem in line with global best practices.
He said that the digital solutions would greatly reduce quackery in Nigeria and thereby increase productivity in the livestock sector.
He said, “Indeed, it is only the qualified and registered Veterinarians who are up to date in practice, that will be issued with the license and the seal.”
He also said that the ministry had initiated the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) to address the issues of diseases and pests control services in the livestock sector.
He said, “As we are aware, despite the large livestock population in Nigeria, the country reaps only 10% of its agricultural GDP from livestock. I believe we can change the narrative if the quality of our veterinary services is improved and the menace of quackery is checked.”
He said that the Ministry was committed to ensuring the development of a robust livestock sub sector in the country, considering its importance to global food security and contributions to poverty reduction.
He called on the VCN, other professionals in the livestock sub-sector, private investors as well as development partners and donors to fully participate and support in the upcoming First National Summit on Agriculture & Food Security in Nigeria.
The Minister also revealed that he was named after one of the first three indigenous Nigerians who graduated from VOM (the first veterinary school) in 1947. He congratulated the VCN for its achievements and contributions to the veterinary profession in Nigeria.
