VCN Inducts 45 FUNAAB Veterinary Doctors, Charges New Professionals to Lead AI-Driven Revolution

The Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) has inducted 45 graduates of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), into the veterinary profession, challenging them to embrace innovation, professional excellence and emerging technologies to transform animal healthcare and contribute to national development.

The induction ceremony, held at the Prof. Oluwafemi Balogun Ceremonial Building, marked the 18th set of Veterinary Doctors produced by the University's College of Veterinary Medicine (COLVET). The event was themed, “Leading the Future of Veterinary Medicine: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Healthier Animals and Communities.”

Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Kehinde, represented by the Head of the Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Technology, Prof. Francis Showemimo, described the induction as a significant milestone in FUNAAB's contribution to veterinary education and national development.

He congratulated the inductees and commended their dedication, rigorous training and perseverance throughout their academic journey. He also acknowledged the contributions and sacrifices of their parents, guardians and sponsors.

Prof. Kehinde reaffirmed the university management's commitment to strengthening COLVET through improved infrastructure, human capacity development and the provision of a conducive environment for teaching and research.

Established in 2001, the College has continued to contribute to animal healthcare, food security and FUNAAB's reputation in veterinary education. He noted that the management remained determined to sustain its position as the best College of Veterinary Medicine in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The Vice-Chancellor also congratulated COLVET on its performance at the recently concluded Vital Two Competition, organised by Ikore International for veterinary students in Nigeria, where FUNAAB's representatives emerged second overall.

He described the achievement as evidence of the university's capacity to produce innovative, academically sound and globally competitive graduates.

Earlier, the Dean of COLVET, Prof. Michael Takeet, described the induction as the culmination of years of dedication, hard work and sacrifice.

He appreciated the Vice-Chancellor for his support and attributed the College's achievements to the collective efforts of successive university leaders, staff, students and alumni. He also paid tribute to the College's founding father, Prof. Babatunde Otesile, for establishing a solid foundation for its development.

Highlighting the College's international achievements, Prof. Takeet disclosed that five of its distinguished alumni successfully passed the Membership Examination of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), United Kingdom, in May 2026, qualifying them for professional practice as Veterinary Surgeons in the UK.

Delivering the keynote lecture, the Chief Executive Officer of Farm Alert, Dr Kayode Femi, challenged the newly inducted veterinarians to build their careers around responsibility, curiosity and courage.

He urged them to remain eager to learn, question existing practices and continuously acquire new knowledge, emphasising that professional success depended not merely on acquiring knowledge but on how effectively it was applied.

Dr Femi encouraged the new professionals to pursue ambitious ideas, take initiative and create opportunities rather than allow their age or circumstances to limit their aspirations.

He further charged them to become change agents who would improve public perception of veterinary medicine through innovation, commitment and purposeful leadership.

Also speaking, the President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Prof. Mathew Adamu, congratulated the management, staff and students of FUNAAB on producing the institution's 18th set of Veterinary Doctors.

He described the milestone as evidence of COLVET's sustained commitment to professional training, noting that reaching this stage came with greater responsibilities, particularly in postgraduate training, advanced research and the development of highly skilled manpower for Nigeria's livestock sector.

Prof. Adamu urged the inductees to embrace professional excellence, innovation and entrepreneurship, stressing that veterinary medicine offered opportunities beyond conventional government employment.

He encouraged them to identify professional niches, establish private practices and become internationally competitive while remaining locally relevant. He also emphasised that integrity and strict adherence to professional ethics must guide their careers.

Administering the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) oath, the Acting Registrar of the VCN, Dr Oladotun Fadipe, cautioned the inductees against compromising professional standards for immediate financial gains or personal convenience.

The major highlights of the ceremony included the administration of the professional oath to the newly inducted Veterinary Doctors and the presentation of an award to Miss Mary Durowoju, who emerged as COLVET's Best Graduating Student.

Awards were also presented to other exceptional students in recognition of their outstanding academic performances.

The induction marked another milestone in FUNAAB's veterinary training programme, while reinforcing the importance of technological innovation, ethical practice, entrepreneurship and professional development in advancing veterinary medicine and animal healthcare in Nigeria.