Renowned veterinary scholar and former Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Ibadan, Professor Olufunke Eunice Ola-Davies, FCVSN, has emerged Deputy Provost-elect of the Postgraduate College of Veterinary Surgeons Nigeria (PCVSN), securing a decisive victory in a nationwide election that produced a new leadership team for the College.
Prof. Ola-Davies polled 195 of the 358 votes cast to clinch the highly contested executive position. Official figures released by the Electoral Committee showed that 424 fellows were registered to vote, while five emails were returned as undeliverable.
The election attracted accredited delegates from across the various segments of the College, underscoring the nationwide participation in the exercise and the broad support for the newly elected Deputy Provost.
The poll also produced other principal officers and faculty representatives, with Prof. A. U. Junaidu emerging Provost-elect after securing 193 votes, while Prof. Raji Moshood Abiola was elected Dean of the Faculty of Pathology with 193 votes.
For the Senate seat representing Surgery, Prof. Adewale Ayodeji Adeyeye led the poll with 315 votes, followed by Prof. Babalola Samuel Adeola with 289 votes, Prof. Chinedu Athanesius Eze with 228 votes and Prof. Raheem Kabir Ayobami with 226 votes.
Several fellows were also returned unopposed to the Senate. They include Prof. Anaga Aruh Ottah, Dr. Ogbu Kenneth Ikejiofor, Prof. Musa Usman and Prof. Gberindyer Fidelis Aondover for Medicine; Dr. Osagie Aibuedefe Peter, Dr. Maimuna Abdullahi Habib, Dr. Sati Samuel Ngulukun and Dr. Muhammad Aminu Ibrahim for Public Health; and Dr. Alexander Ray Jambalang, Prof. Ogbaje Igoche Christopher and Dr. Sugun Manasa Yohana for Pathology.
Declaring the exercise a demonstration of democratic integrity and professional unity, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Prof. Caleb Kudi, commended the contestants and fellows for the peaceful conduct of the election.
“We are immensely proud of the peaceful, transparent and credible manner in which this election was conducted,” Kudi said, adding that the committee provided a level playing field for all candidates.
He congratulated Prof. Ola-Davies and the other elected officers while urging members to place the interests of the College and the advancement of veterinary medicine above individual political considerations.
In an emotional acceptance speech greeted by repeated standing ovations, Prof. Ola-Davies expressed appreciation to her campaign team and the entire national fellowship for their support throughout the campaign.
“The election has come and gone, but your love has remained constant. You never abandoned me. Your encouragement, prayers, sacrifices and confidence have strengthened my resolve to continue serving this noble profession and elevating our College to greater heights,” she said.
The Deputy Provost-elect immediately shifted attention from the election to the task of rebuilding unity, calling on all candidates and fellows to work together for the advancement of the College and the veterinary profession.
According to her, elections may produce winners and losers, but leadership begins with the willingness to serve beyond the declaration of results.
“Leadership is not defined by winning an election alone. Leadership is measured by the willingness to continue serving the people despite challenges,” Ola-Davies said.
She pledged to work closely with the entire team-elect to make the growth and welfare of fellows, professional excellence and institutional development central to their tenure.
She stressed that the College must emerge stronger, more united and better positioned to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s agricultural, livestock and public health development.
With a strong emphasis on global competitiveness, Prof. Ola-Davies said the PCVSN would continue to pursue excellence in specialist training, clinical practice, research and professional development.
“The College remains committed to excellence in specialist training through rigorous academic programmes, clinical practice, research and professional development,” she said. “As Deputy Provost, I will ensure that we continue to uphold the highest standards of postgraduate training while equipping our specialists to respond effectively to global health and livestock challenges.”
She further pledged to work with the Provost-elect, Prof. A. U. Junaidu, and other elected officers to position the College as a benchmark for veterinary education and professional practice across Africa, with particular emphasis on clinical competency, research innovation and international collaboration.
Ola-Davies described the PCVSN as a strategic national institution operating at the intersection of academic excellence, public health security, livestock development and economic growth.
She also stressed the need to maintain uncompromising professional standards despite the high cost of veterinary education and practice.
“Veterinary medicine is a profession that is scarce because it is very expensive, and the Veterinary Council of Nigeria is doing its best to ensure things are running well. We will ensure standards are followed religiously so that we have quality veterinarians capable of fighting zoonotic diseases within the One Health space and securing quality protein for the nation,” she said.
The victory marks another significant milestone in the career of Prof. Ola-Davies, whose tenure as the 16th Dean of the University of Ibadan’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was widely regarded as a transformative period.
She was the first woman to occupy the position in more than six decades and, during her tenure, the faculty regained full accreditation from the National Universities Commission and the Veterinary Council of Nigeria. Her administration also drove major infrastructural improvements, completed abandoned research facilities and facilitated the promotion of 16 academic staff to professorial rank.
Ola-Davies also paid tribute to the Acting Provost of the College, Prof. Adamu Hassan, whose administration she credited with laying a solid foundation for continued academic and institutional growth.
“I want to specially commend our Acting Provost, Prof. Adamu Hassan, whose outstanding leadership, dedication and foresight have laid a strong, reliable foundation for this College,” she said. “His tireless efforts in upholding academic excellence serve as a great inspiration, and I look forward to building upon this solid legacy.”
Her blueprint for the College centres on five major priorities: people-focused welfare and mentorship; cutting-edge research and innovation; high-impact domestic and international partnerships; modern infrastructure; and sustainable institutional growth.
Her professional leadership record includes serving as Chairman of the Committee of Deans and Directors of Veterinary Schools in Nigeria (CODAD), Chairman of the Continuing Education Committee of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria from 2023 to 2025, a member of the University of Ibadan Senate and a voting member of the Council of International Veterinary Medical Education.
With her emergence as Deputy Provost-elect, stakeholders expect Prof. Ola-Davies to bring her record of academic leadership, institutional reform and professional advocacy to the PCVSN, working alongside the Provost-elect and other officers to strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading force in veterinary medicine and advance global veterinary standards across Africa.
