By Esther Onyegbula

The University of Ibadan has officially inducted 63 new veterinary graduates, including 21 distinction awardees, into the veterinary profession during its 54th Oath Taking and Induction Ceremony, with top stakeholders emphasizing the critical role of veterinarians in advancing national public health, food security, and livestock development.

Held at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Auditorium in partnership with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), the event brought together academic leaders, government representatives, and professional bodies who charged the fresh inductees to rise to the increasing demand for veterinary expertise in public health policy and national development.

“The veterinary profession is not only about treating animals. It’s a critical pillar in national and global health systems,” said Prof. Matthew Adamu, President of the VCN. “Veterinarians are central to solving Nigeria’s livestock and public health challenges, and we must continue to align our training with global standards.”

Echoing this nationalistic tone, Dr. Simiat Adeogun, representing the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) President, linked the relevance of the profession to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially in areas of food safety, livestock productivity, and agricultural sustainability. “You are stepping into a field where you serve as gatekeepers of both animal and human health,” she told the graduates.

Also speaking, Mrs. Abosede Esther Owoeye, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, urged the inductees to approach their duties with scientific rigor and ethical integrity. “From zoonotic disease prevention to ensuring food safety, veterinarians are now at the forefront of public health,” she said.

Representing the Vice Chancellor, Professor Aderonke Baiyeroju, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), reminded the new doctors that the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the interconnection between human and animal health. “This profession is more than a job. It is a calling—one that demands lifelong learning and unwavering ethics,” she stressed.

The event marked a personal milestone for Prof. Olufunke Ola-Davies, the outgoing Dean of the Faculty, who presided over her final induction ahead of the end of her tenure on July 31, 2025. She commended the graduates’ resilience through six years of rigorous training and highlighted some class achievements, including global recognition from the World Veterinary Association and sponsorships for postgraduate studies abroad.

“We are not just graduating students; we are sending out professionals who are globally recognized and nationally needed,” she said in an interview with CEOAFRICA. She also announced plans to publish a book chronicling the journey behind organizing the induction ceremony and the faculty’s efforts to grow veterinary education.

Keynote lecturer Dr. Olukayode Aiyenuyo urged the graduates to anchor their careers not only in passion but in deeper curiosity. “Fascination drives lifelong engagement. It will help you sustain the compassion and effort your field requires,” he said.

In an emotional speech on behalf of the graduating class, Dr. Ahmed Saheed Olaide, who was also named Global Veterinary Student of the Year 2025, thanked mentors, family, and the university community. “We’ve endured, adapted, and today, we rise not just as graduates but as custodians of a calling,” he declared.

Other awardees included Dr. Favour Ajibade Akinfemi, the best graduating student, who announced his intention to begin a Ph.D. in infectious disease research by August, and Dr. Adedigba Sharon Ayobami, who encouraged current students to persist in the face of academic difficulty. “Vet school was not easy, but effort and faith brought me here,” she said.

Chairman of the occasion, Aare Dr. Kola Oyefeso, emphasized the broader societal impact of veterinary professionals, reminding the new doctors of their power to influence agricultural productivity and public well-being.

The event drew dignitaries from across academia, government, and the veterinary sector, including Dr. Oladotun Fadipe, Acting Registrar of the VCN; Prof. Mercy Iroaganachi, University Librarian; and Prof. Abiona, Dean of Students, among others.

The ceremony concluded with the formal oath-taking, conferring full professional status on the graduates, as family members, faculty, and guests celebrated the milestone. Awards were presented in academic and leadership categories, underscoring the University of Ibadan’s commitment to grooming veterinarians who can serve both national priorities and global health demands.

The event reinforced the University of Ibadan’s role as a national leader in veterinary education, producing not only skilled practitioners but also advocates and researchers poised to confront Nigeria’s pressing animal and human health challenges.