FAO, ABU train 50 veterinary paraprofessionals in Kaduna
By Hussaina Yakubu
August 28, 2025
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, in partnership with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has graduated 50 veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs) in Kaduna State.
The graduation ceremony, held at the College of Agriculture and Animal Science (CAAS), Mando, Kaduna, marked the completion of an six month training under the project “Empowering Veterinary Paraprofessional Entrepreneurs.”
Dr. Hussein Gadain, FAO Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, said the initiative was aimed at improving access to animal health services, especially in rural areas.
He said the training equipped participants with practical knowledge and entrepreneurial skills to deliver quality, affordable and sustainable veterinary services to livestock farmers.
“Today’s graduation is not only a personal achievement for the trainees but also an investment in food security, rural development and better livelihoods,” Gadain said.
In his remarks ,the Vice Chancellor Ahmadu Bello University Zaria said the programme had helped build the capacity of trainees to provide basic animal health services and support livestock productivity.
The vc who was represented at the event by Prof. Bashir Babaji, Director of the Division of Agricultural Colleges, ABU Zaria, said the graduates would help close the manpower gap in the sector and contribute to solving challenges like herder farmer clashes and rural insecurity.
In his remarks, the Provost of CAAS, Prof. Aliyu Wakawa, thanked FAO for supporting the programme and upgrading the college’s facilities, including hostels and animal pens.
He said the training had improved the college’s visibility both nationally and internationally, while also enhancing the skills of its academic staff.
The Country Coordinator of the VPP Project, Nafinatu Abdullahi, said the training focused on preventive livestock healthcare and business skills.
She said the project, currently in its second phase, would train 225 VPPs across Kaduna, Oyo, and Adamawa states by 2026.
Abdullahi added that future plans include a shorter, three-month course focused specifically on preventive animal healthcare.
Mr. Amwe Akos, Director of Livestock Services at the Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture, who represented the Commissioner for Agriculture, said the government was working to modernise the livestock sector through various projects.
He said the training would help improve livestock productivity and provide skilled manpower for both public and private sector needs.
One of the graduates, Olatunji Faith, said the programme taught her modern approaches to animal health, which she plans to use to support farmers and improve their productivity.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the VPP project is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and targets smallholder livestock keepers in Nigeria, Uganda, and South Africa.
The initiative aims to reduce animal mortality and strengthen food systems by providing last-mile veterinary care in underserved communities.(NAN)