By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – A former National President, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, NVMA, Dr Gani Enahoro, yesterday, called for teamwork by professionals and practitioners to fast-track development of the livestock sector.

Enahoro made the call while speaking with Vanguard on the theme of the recently commemorated World Veterinary Day on April 26 with the theme, ‘Animal Health Takes a Team’, which he points to the fact that teamwork and collaboration can create the desired impact of the newly created Federal Ministry of Livestock Development as it connects directly to Nigerians,.

Therefore, he said the theme itself is a strong message that cannot be overemphasized as it calls on professionals to synergize to raise the Nigerian livestock sector to an enviable height, which has all the potential to galvanize the economy and change the narrative despite years of neglect.

He said: “I was privileged to have served as a Councillor for Africa in the Association Executive for three years between 2017-2020.

“The day offers an opportunity for deep reflections on the contributions of the Veterinarians and the Veterinary para professionals to animal health, their welfare and in actual fact public health generally.

“Year in year out, different themes are canvassed to give attention and direction to areas of global significance with respect to how well the veterinary services impact on the public health system can be improved upon.

“’Animal Health Takes a Team’ emphasizes the power of collaboration amongst health professionals and practitioners in saving the world.

“The days of professional silos where walls and boundaries were built around professions that ordinarily should flow together in unison towards a common goal is now giving way to the more appropriate multidisciplinary approach to solving animal and human health issues.

“Now, how does this concern us in Nigeria, particularly in the livestock sector where a new Ministry was birthed recently?

“The Veterinarians have been frontline crusaders for a separate Ministry for Livestock Development in so many years running into decades.

“Some of us as leaders of the Veterinary association ran into murky waters caused by political leaders who felt that such a thing was targeted at disrupting the ’empire’ which the omnibus Ministry of Agriculture offered them to preside over.

“We were discriminated against and in some cases the association got punished with isolation and loss of patronage from the authorities who should value us more.

“Today the story has changed and President Tinubu has scored a great goal in disrupting the old ugly order in a very brave way.

“So we enjoy the catchy theme of our World Veterinary Day, in taking along with us everyone in the ecosystem that concerns animal health, welfare and production.

“The World Veterinary Day theme should be taken beyond the veterinary world alone and adopted for all other professions that are bedeviled by intra-disciplinary unhealthy rivalries.

“Collaboration and partnership gets the goal scored for the team. Like they say Teamwork ultimately makes the dream work.”