FG, FAO Graduate Veterinary Paraprofessionals to boost Nigeria’s Livestock Sector
Abuja, Nigeria - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Nigeria have marked a significant milestone with the graduation of the first cohort of 25 veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs) trained to support livestock health in rural communities. This achievement is part of FAO's "Empowering Veterinary Paraprofessional Entrepreneurs" initiative, launched to strengthen animal health services in underserved areas.
The graduation ceremony took place at the College of Agriculture and Animal Science (CAAS), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Kaduna, bringing together representatives from government, academia, development agencies, and media. The initiative aims to equip VPPs with technical, entrepreneurial, and gender-responsive skills to deliver high-quality animal health services, creating economic opportunities and improving food security in rural communities.
FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Dr. Hussein Gadain, emphasized the importance of extending animal health services to remote areas, highlighting its impact on safeguarding livestock assets, boosting household incomes, and strengthening food systems. "The VPP initiative supports FAO's vision of better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind," he said.
Professor Bashir A. Babaji, Director of the Agricultural College at ABU Zaria, commended the programme's practical approach and encouraged graduates to apply their skills to improve local productivity and livelihoods. "Veterinary paraprofessionals will play a vital role in bridging the gap between veterinary services and both rural and urban communities," he noted.
Recall that the overarching objective of the programme is to equip VPPs to attend to the basic animal health needs of smallholder farmers and rural dwellers, with a focus on disease prevention. The trainees were also exposed to business management skills, enabling them to run sustainable basic animal health care delivery enterprises.
Funded by the Gates Foundation, the programme aims to train at least 225 VPPs by mid-2026, with a focus of having sustainable veterinary enterprises established by the graduates at the close of the programme. The initiative will reach participants and communities in Kaduna, Oyo, and Adamawa States.
This milestone underscores FAO's commitment to inclusive rural development and sustainable service delivery in Nigeria, highlighting the organization's efforts to close gaps in last-mile animal health services and foster a new generation of animal health entrepreneurs and support networks.
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Contacts:
Kev Esteban Del Castillo
Program Development, Partnerships, & Communications Lead
FAO Nigeria
David Tsokar
Communications Specialist
FAO Nigeria
Chukwuka Kelvin Nwachukwu
Communications Specialist
FAO Nigeria