By Our Correspondent

President of the Association of Ruminant Veterinarians in Nigeria, ARUVIN, Dr. Adah Ogwuche, has linked ruminant health directly to food security, rural incomes and the national economy.

He spoke in Abuja at the opening of ARUVIN’s Maiden National Conference, held at the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute, ARMTI, from September 14 to 17, 2026, with the theme “Enhancing Ruminant Productivity: Health, Market Systems and Climate Resilience.”

The event attracted the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Anzaku, Veterinary Council of Nigeria, VCN President, Prof. Mathew Adamu, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, NVMA President, Dr. Moses Arokoyo, keynote speaker, Mr. Snorri Sigurdsson of Arla Foods, patrons, sponsors and delegates from across Nigeria.

Ogwuche described the conference as a genuine milestone, recalling that ARUVIN started as an idea in 2019 when he was a young veterinarian, and grew through persistence, mentorship and congresses in Lagos, Jos and Taraba.

He paid tribute to early believers in the vision, including the late Dr. Faruku Bande, noting that their encouragement sustained the association through moments of doubt.

“Our cattle, sheep and goats are not only animals in our care; they are food on family tables, income in rural households, and a pillar of our national economy,” he said.

He said the theme was deliberate because disease burden such as PPR, calf mortality and mastitis, climate pressure on grazing and water, and poor market access are interconnected and must be tackled together.

According to him, ARUVIN was created to bridge academia, industry, field practice and government, aligning Nigerian ruminant practice with global standards through affiliation with the World Association for Buiatrics and representation at the 2024 World Buiatrics Congress in Cancun, Mexico.

He said the programme was carefully built to address contemporary field realities, from disease control and herd health economics to value chains and climate resilience, urging delegates to engage fully.

Also speaking, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr. Samuel Anzaku described the maiden conference of the association as a historic initiative, saying the theme was timely because sustainable increases in livestock production cannot be achieved without placing animal health at the centre.

He noted that cattle, sheep and goats remain central to Nigeria’s livestock economy and to the livelihoods of millions, supporting food and nutrition security, household income, employment, trade and rural resilience.

He, however, listed major constraints holding back the sector to include animal diseases, weak preventive services, poor production practices, limited access to veterinary care, feed and water shortages, weak market linkages and increasing climate variability, stressing that the challenges are interconnected.

According to him, poor nutrition increases disease susceptibility, while climate stress raises disease risk and reduces access to pasture and water, hence health, nutrition, markets, environment and climate resilience must be addressed together.

Anzaku said the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development under Hon. Idi Mukhtar Maiha is committed to strengthening animal health systems as part of its broader agenda to build a productive, resilient and commercially viable livestock sector.

He identified control of Peste des Petits Ruminants, PPR as a top priority, noting that the disease causes huge losses in sheep and goat production, especially among smallholders, making its control a matter of livelihoods, food security and economic development.

He disclosed that government is strengthening PPR surveillance and control through serosurveillance and sero-monitoring across states, and is investing in the automation of the National Animal Disease Information System, NADIS to improve timely, data-driven decision making and rapid response.

Anzaku, however, said technology alone cannot fix surveillance, as field veterinarians remain the critical link between livestock owners and the animal health system because they understand production systems and can detect and report unusual events promptly.

Delivering his goodwill message at the Congress, the President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, NVMA, Dr. Moses Arokoyo, described Nigeria’s livestock industry as a national asset waiting to be unlocked, not a problem to be fixed.

He noted that while AU-IBAR estimates Africa has about 268 million pastoralists serving a 1.4 billion market under AfCFTA, FAO data shows 306 million Africans remain undernourished, a contradiction that highlights untapped opportunity.

With its vast cattle, sheep and goat population, Nigeria’s challenge, he said, is not shortage of animals but low productivity, poor animal health, weak market access and low value capture.

According to him, strategic investment across the livestock value chain remains one of the fastest ways to change the narrative for the 133 million Nigerians living in multidimensional poverty.

He charged ruminant veterinarians to lead efforts in reducing disease burden through surveillance, vaccination, digital technology, genetics, biosecurity and improved service delivery.

Arokoyo called for sustained advocacy for food security, poverty reduction and economic diversification, urging Nigerian veterinarians to understudy Kenya and Botswana’s models.

“We must innovate, we must change, we must harness our livestock potential. The cost of inaction places our future in constant dependency mode and this is not acceptable,” he said, adding that animal health must become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic transformation.

Hy Our Correspondent

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has built and renovated 61 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state’s 18 local government areas in less than two years in office, driving accessible and quality healthcare closer to underserved residents.

The initiative introduces free malaria testing and free delivery services at these facilities, easing financial burdens for families and eliminating long travel to urban centres for basic care.

Benefiting communities include Idogbo Health Centre in Ikpoba Okha, Usih in Egor, and New Era in Oredo, Urhonigbe Heath Center in Orhionmwon, Iguoriakhi Health in Ovia South West, among others within the Edo South Senatorial District, marking a major improvement in the quality of life for local communities.

For many beneficiaries, the renewed health centres represent not merely newly Constructed buildings, but a significant improvement in their quality of life.3

Residents who spoke to newsmen expressed appreciation for the intervention, saying the availability of functional healthcare facilities within their communities has reduced the stress, cost and risks associated with seeking treatment far from home.

A resident whose wife delivered earlier in the day confirmed that she received the free delivery service, describing the initiative as a welcome relief for families.

Another beneficiary said she was particularly impressed by the quality of service and professionalism of the healthcare workers. “I am happy that we have something like this in our community. I love it and love the professionalism of the staff there, the way they attend to me and treated me. I am really happy,” she said.

Mr. Victor Okonta, a resident in one of the communities, noted that the transformation has become especially valuable during emergencies. “Having a health centre in our community is a good one for us. We don’t have to go through the stress of going to the city centre anymore, especially during emergencies at night. Before, this place was not okay, but since the renovation, everything is back to normal and the community people are using it,” he said.

Beyond healthcare, the renewed facilities are also stimulating economic activity in surrounding communities. Mrs. Helen Ebhogiaye, a trader at Iwogban Community, said the transformation of their formerly dilapidated health centre had increased patronage for local businesses.3

“Before, this health centre was in a very bad state and people hardly come here for treatment or delivery. But today, since the government intervention, here is booming and it is a plus for us traders. I sell food, and because the place is always busy, I now have many customers patronising me,” she said.

A staff nurse at one of the facilities, Mrs. Omorodion Victory, said the centre operates round the clock, providing immunisation, maternity services, treatment and family planning.

“We render 24-hour services. Delivery is 100% free here. The benefit of this place is that it provides healthcare for community people at an affordable cost and is accessible 24 hours,” she said.

Across the facilities, patients, nursing mothers and other beneficiaries have continued to recount their experiences, commending the government for restoring healthcare services closer to their doorsteps and praising ther dedication and professionalism of the health workers.

For communities that once endured long journeys, high medical bills and poorly functioning facilities, the renewed centres are increasingly being seen as a tangible return of essential public healthcare to the people.

By our correspondent

Governor Agbu Kefas has approved the appointment of Prof. Demo Joab Usman Kalla as Vice-Chancellor of the Taraba State University of Tropical Agriculture, Science, Technology and Climate Action, Gembu.

The appointment was announced in a statement signed by the Secretary to the Government of the State, Chief Gebon Timothy Kataps, Esq., on Monday in Jalingo, the state capital.

Until his appointment, Prof. Kalla served as Director of the TETFund Centre of Excellence on Dairy Research and Development at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, ATBU, Bauchi, and as a member of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee.

The statement describes Prof. Kalla as a prolific scholar with an impressive record of high-quality research publications in reputable local and international journals.

“His contributions to the field of Animal Science have earned him wide recognition within academic and professional circles,” it stated.

Governor Kefas expressed confidence that Prof. Kalla would bring his wealth of experience in academia, research, leadership and administration to bear in providing visionary leadership for the new institution.

According to the governor, the university is expected to be positioned as a centre of excellence in tropical agriculture, science, technology and climate action.

He wished the new Vice-Chancellor a successful and impactful tenure, and urged him to work diligently with relevant stakeholders to realise the university’s mandate.

Governor Kefas also charged Prof. Kalla to drive advancement in education, research, innovation and sustainable development in Taraba State and beyond.

The university, located in Gembu, Sardauna Local Government Area, is one of the flagship higher education projects of the Kefas administration aimed at expanding access to specialised education.