FAO VPP Project: Strengthening Sustainable Veterinary Paraprofessional Enterprises in Nigeria
Livestock is a cornerstone of rural livelihoods in Nigeria, yet millions of farmers face gaps in accessing animal health services due to the limited number of veterinarians.
To strengthen their role and create sustainable VPP enterprises, FAO, with funding from the Gates Foundation, launched the second phase of the project "Empowering veterinary paraprofessional entrepreneurs", in 2024. The objective of the project is to improve both women and men smallholder farmer access to quality preventive veterinary services through private sector VPPs. The initiative equips trainees with technical and entrepreneurial skills to enhance livestock productivity and improve rural livelihoods.
At the College of Agriculture and Animal Science (CAAS), Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, where FAO has an agreement to train VPPs since November 2024, the impact of this partnership is already evident. According to the Provost, Professor Aliyu Wakawa, “FAO’s intervention arrived when the institution was struggling. Through this support, dilapidated facilities were renovated, solar power systems were installed, and critical training units were revived”.
CAAS has since doubled its training capacity from under 50 to between 100 and 150 trainees, while also boosting its visibility and ability to attract major projects backed by other donors through the Federal Ministry of Education. It installed 10 KVA solar power systems for the hostels (powering 70 rooms) and the administrative block (powering 47 offices) and strengthened its revenue base through revamped commercial units that generated ₦ 470 000 (USD 313) in profit from a single six-week cycle of noilers and broilers. Profits now sustain the units and core functions. “Our capacity to host and deliver this kind of training, even in the foreseeable future, is already enhanced. The capacity of our trainers has also been enhanced,” Professor Wakawa explained.
After graduating from CAAS in 2019, Sarah initially worked as a farm manager at a dairy farm before setting up her own practice. She recalls that her services were previously limited to treatments. “Before, I was into practice of just going to administer treatment. This training made me understand that it’s not just all about treatments. We should speak to the farmers on the preventive measures,” she explained.
Sarah is now incorporating biosecurity, vaccination, and advisory services into her work, she is confident that both her income and impact will grow. She now serves more than 100 pastoralist families, helping them reduce losses from disease outbreaks. Her annual net revenue, which once stood at about ₦ 1.5 million (USD 1 000), is projected to rise to more than ₦ 4 million (USD 2 665) thanks to improved business planning and service diversification. “I came here with a fixed mindset. Today, I have a growth mindset and I’m happy about it,” she said, noting that she now keeps proper business records, reinvests profits, and plans to expand her staff from four to at least 15 by the end of 2025.
The story is similar for Amir Umar from Zaria, Kaduna State, a VPP from the 2023 cohort. Before the training, Amir admits his business lacked direction. “I was doing business without any vision, without any thinking of how to grow my own business,” he recalled. Like Sarah, Amir’s focus was limited to treatment. Through the programme, he records, learned to keep financial and operational records, and adopted preventive health approaches. “The first thing that I gained from this training is the mindset change. It has changed my mindset. I realized that this is something sustainable, something I can depend on for the rest of my life,” he said.
Today, Amir earns five times more than before the training, generating over ₦ 5 million (USD 3 330) annually. He has employed three VPPs and is opening an agrovet shop in Zaria. “Most of my farmers now know that biosecurity and vaccination are very important. They spend less on treatment and more on prevention. With that, I also earn more from vaccinations, and the farmers gain too,” Amir explained.
Beyond income gains, both Sarah and Amir say better practices have strengthened farmer trust and transformed livelihoods. Farmers who once relied only on treatment now benefit from preventive services and advisory support that reduce risks, lower costs, and improve livestock productivity. The programme aims to train at least 225 VPPs across Nigeria by mid-2026.