Upon the 49th conference of the Nigerian Society for Animal Production (NSAP) tagged “NSAP-UI 2024” held at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, from 24th – 27th March 2024, certain resolves were made in order to improve Animal Agriculture for Sustainable Economic Development in Nigeria.
In a signed resolution by the President of the association, Professor Francis O. Abeke and Secretary, Dr. Musa I. Ghude, obtained by CEOAFRICA, it is advised that livestock farmers must be deliberately encouraged by government to adopt modern livestock production models that will improve efficiency, mitigate climate change and encourage the export of livestock products as a means of sustainable economic development in Nigeria.
The government of Nigeria were also advised as a matter of urgency and policy, to embark on very regular livestock census to guide in the formulation and implementation of livestock improvement policies and programmes.
Also, “There is the need for government to take urgent steps to secure the livestock production environment in order to attract the much-needed investment in the sector.”
For tertiary institutions in Nigeria, it was recommended that they should urgently update their curricula with the flexibility of incorporating any modern digital technology in animal agriculture which will help to close the manpower gap in the sector.
The resolutions also advanced that “researchers, scientists and research funding agencies in Nigeria should deliberately target challenges that are impactful to the livestock industry such as improving the availability and lowering the cost of feed ingredients and improving productivity and health of animals.
Meanwhile, these recommendations were based on certain observations of the association, which include how “livestock farmers have not fully adopted more modern production models resulting in low productivity and efficiency coupled with the negative effect of climate change despite its potential of contributing to a sustainable economic growth of the country.”
“Current Animal Science curriculum in Nigerian tertiary institutions does not adequately incorporate modern digital technologies like artificial intelligence in livestock production as a result the requisite human resource needs in this sector is inadequate and undervalued. Research outputs are often not in tandem with current challenges faced by livestock farmers. For instance, issues of feed ingredient shortages and costs, up-to-date data on production parameters, and amelioration techniques to low productivity are not adequately addressed.”
Also, “there has been no comprehensive livestock census in Nigeria since the last Resource Inventory and Management Limited (RIM) report of the 1990s which may have contributed to the ineffectiveness of several laudable policies of government to improve the livestock sector and contribute to the nation’s economic growth. The security challenges in the country have greatly impacted negatively on the capacity of the livestock sector to expand and contribute significantly to sustainable economic growth of the country,” the association said.
The conference themed “Improving Animal Agriculture for Sustainable Economic Development in Nigeria” was declared open by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. K. O Adebowale, ably represented by the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Prof Keye Abiona. It featured the presentation of Keynote address Otunba Dr. Adebayo Odunowo Chairman/CEO Biacom Agro Nigeria Limited; scientific papers and exhibitions with participants drawn from government, academia, organized private sector, farmers and traditional rulers.
At the plenary session, Professor Saidu O. Oseni of Obafemi Awolowo University and Dr. Deji Bamidele representing Dr. Tunde Amole of International Livestock Research Institute, Ibadan made presentation on “Digital Technologies for Enhanced Animal Production” and “Declaration of State of Emergency on Food Security: Roles of Stakeholders in Profitable Animal Production in Nigeria”, respectively.
The Society conferred Fellowship on Professor Isaac Sammani Butswat; presented the Captain of Industry and Royal Father’s awards; NSAP Young Scientist Award as well as prizes to the best students in the penultimate year in the Department of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan.
Dignitaries that graced the opening ceremony of the conference included the Chairman of the occasion, His Royal Highness, Oba Muritala Adebayo Akande; members of the Board of Trustees and National Executive Council of NSAP; Fellows and Members of NSAP; the Vice-President, and some Council members of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), President of the Animal Science Association of Nigeria and President, Ghana Society for Animal Production among others.
