Nigerian veterinarians gathered in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, this October for the annual conference of the [Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association](https://nvma.org.ng), marking over a century since the first Veterinary Department was established in Zaria in 1913 and underscoring the profession’s impact on animal health, food safety and national prosperity.
Key facts:
- The inaugural Veterinary Department in Zaria began operations in 1913, focusing on livestock censuses and disease surveillance.
- In 1954, Dr Bukar Shu’aib became the first Nigerian to earn a university degree in veterinary medicine, graduating from the University of Liverpool.
- Nigeria was declared rinderpest‑free in 2005 and contributed to the global eradication of the disease in 2011.
- Today the country boasts more than 13,000 veterinarians and an estimated 50,000 veterinary paraprofessionals across public and private sectors.
- A 2023 quote from the former Chief Veterinary Officer noted, "Our legacy is built on controlling devastating diseases, but the future demands digital tools and stronger public‑private collaboration."
What were the early foundations of veterinary services in Nigeria?
Organised livestock administration existed before colonial rule, especially in the north where the Sarkin Shanu (Chief of Cattle) oversaw grazing lands, stock routes, markets and slaughter facilities. Revenue from the Jangali cattle tax funded these activities until its abolition in 1975. British colonial authorities retained many of these indigenous structures, adapting them through indirect rule as livestock numbers grew and disease threats intensified.
How did formal veterinary administration begin?
Modern veterinary services officially started in 1913 with the creation of the Veterinary Department in Zaria. The department’s early duties included livestock censuses, disease surveillance and control of infectious outbreaks. After the 1914 amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria, F. R. Brandt was appointed the country’s first Chief Veterinary Officer, bringing greater structure to the fledgling service. In 1924, veterinary laboratory and research functions moved from Zaria to Vom on the Jos Plateau, a site later known as the [National Veterinary Research Institute](https://nvri.gov.ng), which became Nigeria’s premier centre for research, diagnostics and vaccine production.
Which milestones shaped the veterinary profession?
- **Disease control:** Early veterinarians battled rinderpest and trypanosomosis, employing quarantine, surveillance and treatment programmes to protect pastoral communities.
- **Pest management:** Veterinary authorities also tackled agricultural pests such as locusts, grasshoppers and Quelea birds, recognising the link between animal health and crop yields.
- **Education:** The Veterinary School in Vom opened in 1941, initially training assistants and field staff. In 1954, Dr Bukar Shu’aib earned Nigeria’s first veterinary degree, signalling the rise of indigenous expertise.
- **Post‑independence expansion:** Government programmes promoted water points, grazing reserves, veterinary care and livestock markets. The Northern Nigeria Grazing Reserve Programme emerged as a flagship effort to improve pastoral resources.
- **Parastatal enterprises:** Initiatives like the Vom Dairy, Shika Stock Farm, Mokwa Cattle Ranch and Agege Dairy boosted meat and milk production, transitioning livestock from traditional to organised systems.
- **Academic growth:** The University of Ibadan launched Nigeria’s first Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 1963, followed by Ahmadu Bello University in 1964, laying the groundwork for modern veterinary training.
- **Regulation:** The Veterinary Surgeons Ordinance of 1952 established statutory oversight, eventually giving rise to the [Veterinary Council of Nigeria](https://vcouncil.gov.ng), which enforces professional standards.
What are the profession’s landmark achievements in animal health?
Nigeria played a pivotal role in eradicating rinderpest, with veterinarians vaccinating livestock across remote regions. The country’s official rinderpest‑free status in 2005 contributed to the global eradication of the disease in 2011 – the first animal disease ever eliminated worldwide. Another success was the containment of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) after the first African outbreak in 2006; by 2013 Nigeria declared itself free of the notifiable disease. Ongoing meat inspection, food‑safety monitoring and zoonotic disease prevention remain essential to consumer protection.
What challenges does the sector face today?
Nigeria’s livestock herd now exceeds 900 million animals, yet many producers lack adequate access to veterinary services, diagnostics, vaccines and quality‑assured products. Emerging and transboundary diseases, antimicrobial resistance, rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation and climate change add complexity to disease management and food‑security goals.
How is the profession preparing for the future?
Stakeholders emphasise sustained investment in veterinary infrastructure, disease surveillance, laboratory networks and emergency preparedness. The next century will demand specialisation in epidemiology, food safety, public health, animal welfare, wildlife health and the integration of artificial intelligence and digital tools. Digital surveillance platforms, geospatial analytics and data‑driven decision‑making are already reshaping animal‑health management worldwide and present huge opportunities for Nigeria.
Collaboration between public and private veterinary services is deemed crucial. While government bodies provide regulatory oversight and lead disease‑control campaigns, private practitioners deliver frontline clinical care, biosecurity advice and technical support to livestock owners. Together they form the backbone of a resilient, modern animal‑health system.
As Nigeria celebrates over 100 years of veterinary practice, the profession stands at a crossroads: building on a legacy of disease control and institutional development, embracing innovation, and confronting the evolving challenges of a changing world. The iconic Veterinary Council of Nigeria headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, symbolizes this journey from modest beginnings to a respected, indispensable pillar of national development.
*Hail Naija’s Animal Doctors: for more than a century they have protected the nation’s animals, safeguarded its people, secured its food supply and helped build a stronger Nigeria.*