UI VC Urges Veterinary Inductees to Embrace Lifelong Learning at 55th Oath-Taking Ceremony

University of Ibadan has held its 55th Oath-Taking and Induction Ceremony for the 2024/2025 set of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, with the Vice-Chancellor, Kayode O. Adebowale, charging new inductees to commit to continuous professional development and ethical practice.

Addressing the graduates, Adebowale said the completion of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programme marks the beginning of professional responsibility, not the end of learning. He stressed that the emergence of new diseases, evolving technologies, and advancing treatment methods make lifelong learning essential for relevance in the field.

He urged the new veterinarians to actively engage in the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development programme of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, read scientific journals, and attend professional conferences, warning that professional stagnation undermines competence.

The Vice-Chancellor also emphasized ethical discipline, noting that blurred moral boundaries in society require practitioners to maintain strong integrity. He encouraged honesty with clients, transparency in practice, and fairness in clinical judgment, adding that institutional reputation depends on individual conduct.

Adebowale further highlighted the importance of compassion in veterinary practice, stating that effective practitioners combine technical expertise with empathy, as animal health is often closely tied to human emotional and economic wellbeing.

He congratulated the inductees for successfully completing one of the university’s most competitive programmes, affirming that their training at UI positions them among globally competitive professionals.

The ceremony was chaired by the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, who described the induction as a transition into national service and professional responsibility.

Ogundoyin noted that veterinary medicine plays a central role in food security and public health, urging stakeholders to strengthen investment in agricultural and veterinary systems to support national development.

He also advocated for the revitalisation of the Eruwa Veterinary Field Station, describing it as a strategic asset for agricultural research, food safety, and economic development.

The Dean of the Faculty, Babasola O. Olugasa, confirmed that 54 inductees took the professional oath at the ceremony, which also featured participation from senior veterinary officials, alumni, and international representatives of the profession.

Certificates, professional licences, and academic awards were presented to outstanding graduates, marking their formal entry into veterinary practice under the regulatory oversight of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria.