By Dorathy Aninge
Makurdi, March 4, 2025(NAN) The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Benue Chapter, has solicited more government funding and support for the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) board to deliver on its mandate.
The chapter’s Chairman, Dr Andrew Amine, made the appeal on Tuesday in Makurdi when the chapter hosted VCN President-elect Prof. Matthew Adamu.
Amine called for a return of the board to government funding so that more veterinary schools would be accredited and teaching hospitals run smoothly.
The chairman urged the board members to use the opportunity given them to counsel the president whenever they see something wrong.
He said that it was the first time the NVMA chapter was having a president since he became a veterinary doctor.
“I welcome all to this homecoming. We are excited to have a member of our board of advisors elevated to the rank of VCN president.
“We pray that the 12th board, led by Prof. Matthew Adamu and Vice President Halimat Gambo, will uplift the profession from where it is to a higher level.
“As someone who has served for five years on the board, he knows the challenges that are being faced by veterinary doctors, especially the issue of quackery, regulation and funding,” he said.
Amine commended the Benue government for creating a Bureau for Livestock Development and Transboundary Animal Disease Control and for appointing a veterinarian, Dr Aondoaaka Asambe, as the maiden director-general of the bureau.
He expressed happiness that the feat was achieved during his tenure as Benue NVMA chairman.
Adamu, in his remarks, thanked the members of NVMA for their support when he came out to contest for the election and prayed God to continue to keep them together for his work to be smooth.
The president-elect promised to ensure that places were veterinarians and para veterinarians were trained would be of world best standard so they can compete with other veterinarian globally
“The VCN of Nigeria was setup in 1953 and by law, its mandate is to ensure that the training of veterinary doctors in Nigeria and the practice of veterinary medicine is according to the standard set aside by the world association for animal health.
“We want to also ensure that the practice of veterinary medicine is equally aligned with global best practices.
“This will help in the issue of livestock transformation, as the president of the Livestock Association already has that in his agenda,” he said.
He pleaded with members of NVMA to bring ideas they have that would help him in running the board smoothly, as his doors would always be open to receive criticism.
Prof. Rachel Korzerzer, Head of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy, in a goodwill message, congratulated the newly elected president and prayed for him to go to places higher.
Korzerzer described the new president as a humble man and that she was to be associated with him.
She prayed God to give him a stress-free tenure.
Dr Attah Samson, NVMA Secretary General prayed for a smooth running of office and thanked God for giving him a father in the president elect.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adamu was elected on Monday to lead the council. NAN
