By Juliet Umeh

Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, has received a major boost to veterinary education and livestock development following the donation of a 2,000-capacity Model Broiler Poultry Pen Complex by the Group Managing Director of Amo Group, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan.

The facility was unveiled and commissioned during the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Oath Taking and Induction Ceremony, marking a significant step towards strengthening practical training, youth empowerment, and sustainable poultry production in Nigeria.

Dr. Oduntan, an alumnus of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, ABU Zaria, Class of 1990, said the donation was driven by a personal commitment to give back to the institution that shaped his professional journey.

Speaking at the commissioning, he said returning to make a meaningful contribution to the university had been a long-held goal, noting that the faculty provided the foundation for the values, discipline, and vision that guided his career in agribusiness.

The newly commissioned facility, designed and constructed by Diversay Solutions Ltd., a subsidiary of the Amo Group, is a fully integrated commercial poultry operation. It comprises a 2,000-capacity model broiler poultry pen, an administrative office for poultry management staff, a borehole to ensure a steady supply of potable water, and an initial stock of 2,000 broiler chicks with feed supplied up to market weight.

An offtake arrangement has also been built into the project to guarantee the purchase of birds at maturity, enabling the facility to operate sustainably as a business enterprise.

According to Dr. Oduntan, the initiative is designed to groom veterinary students into entrepreneurs by exposing them to real-world poultry production, business management, and value chain operations while still in school.

“This facility is designed to function as a real commercial operation. Students will not only learn animal health and production but will also gain practical understanding of management, accountability, and value creation,” he said.

“My vision is simple: no veterinary graduate of this institution should leave without the capacity to create income, provide solutions, and contribute meaningfully to national development.”

Representing the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Raymond Bako, commended Dr. Oduntan for his foresight and sustained commitment to the institution.
He described the donation as timely and impactful, noting that it would strengthen practical training, research, and entrepreneurship within the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, while also urging other alumni to support the university’s growth and development.

Dr. Oduntan also delivered the keynote address at the ceremony on the theme, “The Ingredients of Successful Poultry Startups: The History and Progress of the Noiler Chicken in Nigeria.”

In his presentation, he highlighted the impact of the Noiler chicken, a dual-purpose breed developed by Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Ltd., a subsidiary of the Amo Group. He said the breed has contributed significantly to food and protein security, improved nutrition in rural communities, and provided sustainable income opportunities for smallholder farmers, particularly women and children, across Nigeria and Africa.

In recognition of his contributions to veterinary education, agribusiness development, and national food security, Dr. Oduntan was presented with an Award of Excellence by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

The commissioning ceremony, organised by the Faculty’s Alumni Committee, was attended by members of the university’s management, faculty, students, alumni, and members of the public, underscoring the Faculty’s commitment to production-oriented veterinary education.