Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has donated 700 doses of anti-rabies vaccines to Yakubu Gowon University Veterinary Clinic, Abuja as part of the efforts to strengthen veterinary services and support global initiatives to eradicate rabies by 2030.
The chief veterinary officer of Nigeria (CVON), Dr Samuel Anzaku, disclosed this when a delegation from the ministry visited the acting vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Matthew Adamu, in Abuja.
Anzaku said the donation underscored the government’s commitment to promoting animal health and recognising the university’s vital role in advancing research and innovation in the livestock sector.
He said the items included 700 doses of anti-rabies vaccine, syringes, packs of cotton wool, disinfectants and other disease-control consumables, adding that proper documentation and reporting of vaccination activities were essential for effective disease monitoring.
Responding, Prof. Adamu commended the ministry for the gesture and promised that the vaccines and materials would be put to optimal use.
“With the appointment of Dr Anzaku as chief veterinary officer and the federal government’s renewed commitment, there will be a positive transformation in veterinary services, especially in disease surveillance and outreach to remote areas where livestock and pets are concentrated,” he said.
Adamu encouraged Nigerian tertiary schools to establish prototype ranches for teaching, research and revenue generation, noting that such initiatives would enhance collaboration between academia and government in developing the livestock industry.