A century of veterinary medicine in Nigeria: From disease control to national development

In 1913, the Veterinary Department was established in Zaria, marking the beginning of organised veterinary services in Nigeria. Under British colonial rule, indigenous livestock management systems were retained and adapted. The first Chief Veterinary Officer, F. R. Brandt, played a crucial role in organising veterinary services on a more structured basis in 1914.

Veterinary laboratories and research activities were transferred to Vom on the Jos Plateau in 1924, which would later become the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), the country's leading veterinary research institution. Early veterinarians faced significant challenges, such as controlling diseases like rinderpest and trypanosomosis, which threatened livestock populations and food security.

They also tackled agricultural pests and played roles in maintaining food security. Veterinary education saw growth with the establishment of the Veterinary School in Vom in 1941, which later became a regional centre for veterinary training in Africa. The first Nigerian to earn a university degree in veterinary medicine was Dr Bukar Shu'aib, graduating from the University of Liverpool in 1954.

As Nigeria gained independence, veterinary services became more domestically led, leading to rapid expansion in livestock development programs, including improvements in water resources, grazing reserves, veterinary care, and livestock markets. Parastatal livestock establishments, dairy and breeding centres, and commercial production schemes were set up to boost productivity and secure domestic supplies of meat and milk.

These developments transformed livestock production into an organised sector encompassing animal health, breeding, parastatal ranching, dairy and poultry production, pasture management, research, and extension. The creation of states in 1967 further solidified the veterinary and livestock administration framework.