THE Federal Government, Friday, 20th October 2023, expressed optimism that with the introduction of veterinary seal the livestock industry will be sanitized and drastically reduce quackery.

This was stated by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, in an address during celebration of 70 years of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, VCN, and the launch of the ‘National Veterinary Practicing Licence, Veterinary App, Veterinary Seal, and Geo-mapping of Veterinary practice.

Kyari also warned that only qualified and registered veterinarians who are up to date in practice that will be issued license and the seal.

He said: “Despite the large livestock population in Nigeria, the country reaps only 10% of it’s agricultural GDP from livestock. I believe we can change the narrative if the quality of our veterinary services is improved and the menace of quackery is checked.

“The introduction of the digitized National Veterinary Practicing License, Veterinary Seal and the Geo-mapping of Veterinary practice, premises will greatly reduce quackery in Nigeria and thereby increase productivity in our livestock sector.

“Indeed, it is only the qualified and registered veterinarians who are up to date in practice that will be issued with the license and the seal.”

However the Minister made it clear that disease control cannot be left in the hands of the public veterinarians in the private sector, hence the Ministry is currently boosting participation in animal health management system.

“We understand that disease control cannot be left in the hands of the public veterinarians in the private sector, therefore we are strengthening their participation in animal health management system.


“So , I urge you all to work together for the interest of our national food security emergency and strategic growth of the livestock industry in Nigeria.

“All veterinary documents would be considered as authentic and legal with the fixing of the Veterinary seal”, he said.

Earlier, in an opening remark, the President, VCN, Aishstu Baju, explained essence of the launch of the digitization project, which is basically to combat quackery in the profession and enhance the efficiency of veterinarians in service delivery.

“Today, we introduce four cutting edge technology solutions: The Veterinary Seal, the Veterinary App, Digitalized Veterinary Practice License, Geo-mapping of Veterinary Practice premises.


“These innovations are our response to combat quackery in our profession and enhance the efficiency of veterinarians and veterinary professionals in service delivery.

“We encourage all veterinary professionals to embrace these innovations and collaborate with the Council to eradicate quackery in Nigeria”, Baju said.

Meanwhile, she expressed readiness to collaborate with relevant stakeholders.

“In turn, the Council will continue its unwavering support and collaboration with relevant stakeholders to provide the enabling environment towards achieving and maintaining qualitative veterinary services for our national development”, she added.

benuejosh:
Some members of nairaland need to be attended to by veterinary doctors because of the way they reason, think or act.

Life as an unemployed graduate isn't always easy. Sometimes, things get so tough that you begin to wonder if you wronged the gods, somehow.

Most times, your life can be summed up in one word: frustrating.

Your ability to achieve a mental balance gets challenged each day.

As soon as you get a moment to forget the struggles of life, that friend with whom it seemed like you had become partners in the labour market calls in to tell you how he's managed to secure a well-paying job.

"Ahhh. So my own case is the handiwork of my village people, as feared?!"

"But I thought my destiny and EMX's are tied together nah!"

Then you remember, that other members of your clique like Emeka, Roland, Wale, Aliyu, Emike, and Daniella have all secured jobs since the turn of the year.

Immediately, you look up to the sky (or ceiling in most cases; sometimes stepping outside the house may seem like a privilege) and question God in a Balotelli-esque fashion: "why always me?!"

You begin to feel alienated by success. Emotions begin to pour. But regardless of your reaction, that's not an easy question to answer.

Life gets you to suffer humiliation and hardships of being considered not good enough for any job at all. All the questions that went unanswered, the advances that were met with a stern, unwelcoming attitude at different offices... or is it the people debating issues of whether to turn you to an errand boy so you could earn some 200 bucks for recharge card or just leave you be (to suffer in silence). "Imagine! People wey no reach to even lace my shoes before."

On the home front, some of your siblings' chores become your duty. Why? Because you are not much use in the house. For every meal you eat, every time you go to bed, each time you sit idly, parents want you tasked.

Your value continues to drop on a per-second basis. It feels like nobody cares about you for anything. You grow anxious and frustrated with life. Your happiness is about to be taken away from you by unseen forces.

"But this no be the plan we been plan from the start!" Soon after that thought, you see an advert on TV reminding you that life doesn't always go according to plan. Or is it the pastor in Church reminding you that everything in life is God's design? How then am I supposed to relate to God not wanting me to succeed? You begin to question your belief in God. "Is there even a god?!"

But all of that is not you. It's frustration playing out. So many times, you feel like a lost soul in a human body. Trapped and without help. You're not sure when redemption will come, or if it will come at all.

Carefully redesigning a CV that never gets more than a glance. Your life is no longer filled with fun an excitement. Grief, self-pity, and anger are gradually taking over.

"What a sorry soul!" No money for business, no means to learn a skill or two, and no jobs to keep you busy. Life can't get any worse.

But what can you do in all of these?

You continue to reinvent, hoping that someday, your salvation will come. All that 2.1 from a reputable university doesn't feel so important anymore. Set all of that aside, believing that only grace can rescue you now.

This is the typical life of an unemployed graduate in Nigeria.

Things are HARD!