The President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Dr. Moses Arokoyo, has called for the reimagining of veterinary practice in Nigeria through technology, professionalism and One Health collaboration to unlock the nation’s livestock potential.
Dr. Arokoyo made the call in his welcome address at the 62nd Annual Congress and Annual General Meeting of the Association holding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, from 26th to 31st October, 2026, with the theme “Veterinary Practice in the 21st Century” and tagged “Land of Promise 2026.”
He said for over six decades, the NVMA Congress has provided a platform for professional development, knowledge exchange, advocacy and collaboration, noting that this year’s edition comes at a defining moment when technology, artificial intelligence, emerging and re-emerging diseases, climate change, antimicrobial resistance and changing production systems are reshaping the profession.
According to him, the 2026 theme calls on veterinarians to prepare for the future through three interconnected priorities: the future of veterinary practice, professionalism and human capital development; innovation, digital transformation and technology-enabled veterinary services; and veterinary medicine, One Health and national economic development.
Dr. Arokoyo noted that the livestock sector is one of Africa’s greatest economic assets, yet its full potential remains unrealized. Citing AU-IBAR estimates, he said livestock contributes approximately 25% of agricultural GDP across sub-Saharan Africa, supporting about 268 million pastoral and agro-pastoral people, while FAO data shows Africa was the only major world region where populations of all five major livestock species increased between 2013 and 2023.
He however lamented that in 2024, more than 306 million Africans were undernourished, representing over 45% of the global total, with almost 59% of Africa’s population — approximately 893 million people — experiencing moderate or severe food insecurity.
He said Nigeria’s livestock opportunity is compelling, with FAO figures showing approximately 55 million cattle, 139 million goats, 65 million sheep and 685 million poultry, while recent Federal Government estimates put total livestock population at over 910 million animals, contributing more than $32 billion annually to the economy.
The NVMA President said the Federal Government’s ambition to grow the sector beyond $74 billion within the next decade must move beyond paper to drive investment in animal health, veterinary education, disease prevention, infrastructure, processing, innovation and market access.
He warned that the cost of inaction is enormous, with animal disease burden estimated to cost sub-Saharan Africa over $9 billion annually, reducing productivity, compromising reproduction, threatening public health and restricting trade.
“The veterinarian of the 21st century must be more than a clinician. We must be epidemiologists, public health professionals, food-safety experts, entrepreneurs, researchers, business advisers and technology-enabled leaders,” he said.
Dr. Arokoyo said the congress is designed to move beyond conversation to action through plenary sessions, professional group discussions, scientific presentations, product launches, exhibitions and the AGM, with expected outcomes including enhanced professional capacity, greater adoption of digital technologies, stronger One Health collaboration and greater policy recognition for veterinary medicine.
At the event, the NVMA President presented three prayers to the Honourable Minister:
First, stronger recognition and investment in veterinary services as critical national economic infrastructure, including strengthening the veterinary workforce at Federal, State and Local Government levels.
Second, support for creating an enabling environment for sustainable animal health systems, including stronger disease surveillance, routine vaccination, functional cold-chain and diagnostic infrastructure, digital transformation, responsible antimicrobial use and effective public-private partnerships.
Third, leadership in institutionalizing structured engagement with the NVMA and wider veterinary profession in livestock policy and national development, including a deliberate role for veterinary professionals in policy formulation, programme implementation and monitoring.
“These are not merely requests for our profession; they are investments in Nigeria’s food security, public health, employment, livestock productivity and economic future,” Dr. Arokoyo said.
He urged delegates to use the congress to renew unity, strengthen professionalism and produce practical commitments that will advance animal health and national development.
“Healthy animals lead to higher productivity, more food, better farmer incomes, stronger value chains, more jobs and expanded trade. Veterinary services are not simply a cost to government; they are an investment,” he added.