UNIMAID Inducts 84 Veterinary Surgeons as Dr. Umar Faruq Sweeps 12 Academic Awards

The University of Maiduguri has on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, formally inducted 84 new Veterinary Surgeons into the Nigerian medical profession.

The 36th Attestation and Oath-taking ceremony, held at the Muhammadu Indimi International Conference Centre, was headlined by the record-breaking academic performance of Dr. Umar Faruq, who clinched a staggering 12 awards, including the prestigious Dean’s Prize for the Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Laminu Mele, presiding over the occasion, lauded the inductees for their resilience throughout a rigorous six-year academic journey. 

Beyond the celebration of the 84 graduates, the Vice-Chancellor utilized the platform to announce significant institutional advancements, including a major donation from an anonymous benefactor that has equipped the Veterinary Teaching Hospital with a digital X-ray machine and automated surgical tables.

Addressing the long-standing concerns of the academic community, Professor Mele pledged that the University Management is systematically addressing infrastructural challenges, with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine prioritized for upcoming renovations and staff office improvements.

The Sub-dean of the Faculty, Dr. ThankGod E. Onyiche, administered the professional oath, officially conferring the title of "Doctor" upon the graduates. 

He assured the Class of 2025 that their training at the University of Maiduguri has equipped them with a global currency of competence, allowing them to compete with their peers anywhere in the world.

Representing the regulatory authority of the profession, the Vice President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Professor Halima Idrisa Gambo, described the induction as a "sacred covenant."

She emphasized the VCN’s role as the nation’s quality assurance organ under the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD), charging the new surgeons to act as the "voice for the voiceless."

Professor Gambo issued a stern warning against professional misconduct, urging the doctors to reject quackery and uphold the "One Health" philosophy that links the health of animals, humans, and the environment.

Providing an operational update on the Faculty’s progress, the Dean, Professor Mohammed Ahmed Umar, highlighted the international pedigree of the teaching staff, who bring expertise from the UK, USA, Japan, and beyond. 

He revealed that the Faculty has successfully secured four National Research Fund concept notes from TETFund and is expecting imminent facility interventions from the Livestock Productivity, Resilience and Support Project (L-PRES) in the areas of surgery, radiology, and diagnostics.

He urged the new doctors to remain lifelong learners and exemplary ambassadors of the institution as they depart to serve as frontline soldiers against zoonotic diseases and sentinels for national food security.