By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
The Division of Agricultural Colleges (DAC), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has trained veterinary para-professionals to bridge the human resources gaps of veterinary doctors in Nigeria.
Prof. Musa Abdullahi Mahdi, Director, Division of Agricultural Colleges who made this known in an interview with journalists in Zaria yesterday, that the training is to rid quackery and strengthen access to sustainable animal health services.
Mahdi said the first set of 25 beneficiaries of the partnership recently graduated from the college adding that more would be trained under the collaboration.
The Director, added that DAC has established linkages and partnership with various government and Non-Governmental Organisations towards strengthening its operations.
According to him, such partnerships and collaborations, the United Nations through the office of the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, supported developmental projects of the colleges.
“One of such support was the dredging of the college’s dam at College of Agriculture and Animal Science, Mando Kaduna and linking the college with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
“The linkage between the DAC and FAO was hinged on training veterinary para-professionals to bridge the human resources gaps of veterinary doctors in Nigeria,’’ Mahadi said.
He said the beneficiaries of the programme were certified with the requisite skills to care for animals with a view to enhancing the ecosystem, protecting biodiversity and promoting food security.
The director said that the collaboration between the college and the UN would also boost the learning ecosystem and infrastructure across the three colleges of the division.
He commended the support from Prof. Kabiru Bala, Vice Chancellor of ABU for facilitating the provision of tractors and other learning infrastructures at the campuses of the college.
He also appealed for improved funding and support from the government to enable the colleges bring more development and dynamic approach to modern agriculture towards enhancing sustainable food security.
