The Oyo State government has extended hands of collaboration with the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, in the areas of capacity training and capacity building.
This was said by the Executive Governor of the State, Engr Seyi Makinde, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development of the state, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, while taking the welcome address at the opening ceremony of the 60th anniversary celebration of the college held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at Dr. K. J. Nwufoh Hall.
Congratulating the Provost of the college, Dr. A. O. Owosibo, the Governor restated the promise of his administration to drive the economy of the state using agriculture, highlighting the efforts of the government in achieving the promise. He specifically highlighted that in 2023, the Oyo State Action for Economic Recovery through the government rose to cushion the effect of removal of fuel subsidy and has in many ways showed support to local famers such as the provision of different facilities and loans, assuring farmers that these interventions shall be continuous.
He also noted that the state government is looking forward to collaboration with the college of animal health in the “area of capacity training, capacity building, laboratory testing of the soil, animal and crops towards improved agricultural activities in the state,” adding that this is workable since the college is saddled with the mission of training in livestock production.
According to him, “I advise that you decentralise your trainings and hold trainings for farmers throughout the state for the sake of persons who cannot stay in the college environment for a long time.”
In a similar vein, experts, stakeholders, and professionals in the agricultural and animal health sectors have lauded the college of animal health for the giant strides in marking the diamond jubilee anniversary. In their goodwill messages delivered at the celebration, representatives from Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Animal Science Association of Nigeria (ASAN), Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture (ASUCA), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Dean of Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof. Olufunke Ola-Davies, among others.
Prof Ola-Davies who joined the train of congratulating people, wished the college a new beginning of greater things. The Lagos Zonal Director, Federal Ministry of Agric and Food Security, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Olayinka Akeredolu, acknowledged that it must have taken a lot of work, dedication, and commitment to have attained the age, urging the institute to continue the good work.
The Chairperson of the Occasion, a Distinguished Alumnus and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Animal Care Services Konsult, Dame Olufunmilayo Agbato, also expressed her congratulations to the past provosts and the current provost for sustaining and maintaining the legacies of the institute. Agbato therefore appealed to the management of the institute, to upgrade the curriculum of the college to allow innovations, charging them to embrace technology and artificial intelligence. “There is no way we can be doing the same thing the same way and expect a different result,” she said.
A Special Guest of the occasion, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharabutu, MNI, FCVSN, expressed that 60years in the language of the civil servants means doom, noting that in the language of an academic community like this, 60years means the beginning of life, the beginning of expertise, and the beginning of research.
