By Abdul-Ganiyy Akanbi, Abuja

Veterinary Council of Nigeria, VCN has reaffirmed its commitment to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu-led federal government in order to boost the production and productivity levels of livestock sector for direct impact on the nation’s economy.

President of the VCN, Prof. Matthew Adamu made the pledge during the inauguration of the 12th board of the Council in Abuja.

Adamu, who maintained that the Council which was created over seven decades ago has the effective manpower and maximum political would make Nigeria livestock sector, a business hub for African nations.

He said: “There is no room for failure, pioneer minister, sir. The Veterinary Council of Nigeria, as far as records are concerned, have been in existence for 72 years now. We celebrated 70 years two years ago. We are saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that we regulate the training and practice of veterinary medicine in Nigeria.”

Adamu, who was just elected as the President of the inaugurated Board of the VCN, said the Council had registered over 10,000 veterinarians and 50,000 paraprofessionals to ensure people in the line of production in the livestock sector adhere strictly to the rules and regulations of the profession in the interest of the country.

While thanking the federal government under President Bola Tinubu for what he described as bold initiative of creating the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Adamu gave assurance to the Minister of Livestock Development the readiness of the newly inaugurated boards to transform the sector.

He said if the ministry had been created since the nation’s independence, the sector would have achieve more economic fortunes for the country.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi urged the board members to justify the confidence reposed in them by ensuring accelerating progress in the Ministry of Livestock Development.

“Let me congratulate all of you for today. I want us to use this as an opportunity, because it is coming at the time in which a very profound development has happened in the sector, through this very esteemed ministry, the Ministry of Livestock Development,” he said.

Senator Abdullahi was optimistic of strategic move under the leadership of the new board.

He implored the board members to make rapid change in the sector through effective implementation of the federal government policies and programmes

“I think the best we can do for ourselves is now that we are opportune to do what is right. And doing what is right is the mark of statesmanship and I want to assure you that we’re going to do just that,” the minister said.

While inaugurating the 12th board members of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, VCN, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha expressed hope that with the newly inaugurated board members of the VCN, there was brighter future in the livestock sector.

Maiha told the gathering and most especially the board that there are many opportunities in the livestock sub-sector and they must tap into the opportunities for the benefit of the country and humanity in general.

The minister enumerated on his experiences in Brazil where livestock development took a centre stage and Nigeria must not get an exception with the confidence reposed in the ministry by President Bola Tinubu

Also at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Akunjobi promised the board an unalloyed support of the ministry especially in the area of technical and skill development,as well as training and retraining of the staff of the ministry to have first hand information on modern veterinary.

“Let’s use this opportunity to ensure that we provide the necessary technical backstopping and support for the livestock sector to grow as a very robust part of the Nigerian economy,” he said.

Akunjobi, who is also a veterinarian described minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muktar Maiha as well breed practitioner and a critical stakeholder in the industry and ever ready to lure investors into livestock sector in Nigeria.

The 12-member board had professionals from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Surgeon of Nigeria, Director of Veterinary Services and College of Veterinary Medicine from reputable tertiary institutions across the country.