UNIBEN veterinary medicine faculty shut down over non-accreditation

The Veterinary Council of Nigeria has shut down the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Benin, Edo State.

The decision is a result of the university’s inability to meet the standard requirements to run Veterinary Medicine programmes at the institution.

A serving Assistant Inspector General of Police and President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Dr Aishatu Abubaka-Baju, confirmed the development to The PUNCH in Jos on Tuesday, on the sidelines of the ongoing 60th Annual Congress of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association held in Jos, Plateau State.

The President stated, “We are just coming from the University of Benin and other universities. We have closed down Veterinary Medicine at the University of Benin for lack of standards, so it cannot admit students. For the University of Abuja, it was granted interim accreditation, and the council will revisit the universities in two years.”

The President maintained that the Council is determined to reposition veterinary medicine in public higher institutions across the country for more effective service delivery.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the annual Congress, several top government officials, including the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr Chinyere Akujobi, assured that the Federal Government would facilitate more profitable ventures in veterinary and related businesses in the country.

They said that the move would help the government tap into the maximum economic potential in the sector.

“We thank His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the vision of establishing the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development. This significant initiative underscores the administration’s commitment to enhancing livestock production and productivity, and improving the livelihood of millions of Nigerians involved in livestock farming.

“As a Ministry, we believe that collaboration between the government, research institutions, and the private sector will be key to unlocking opportunities in the use of artificial intelligence in veterinary service delivery. Together, we can drive research, foster innovation, and develop the necessary infrastructure to effectively implement artificial intelligence solutions in our livestock sector,” the Permanent Secretary said.

The President of the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association, Dr Moses Arokoyo, stated that the 2024 annual Congress, themed “A Century of Veterinary Service Delivery in Nigeria: Opportunities for Artificial Intelligence in National Food Security,” underscores the critical role in advancing various sectors of the economy.

He encouraged participants to explore the innovations and leverage them while expressing the hope that the meeting would provide a platform to discuss ways to effectively harness the country’s livestock resources to achieve national food security.