The Food and Agriculture Organisation (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, which was held at the College of Agriculture and Animal Science (CAAS), Mando, Kaduna, on Thursday, marked the completion of a six-month training under the project ‘Empowering Veterinary Paraprofessional Entrepreneurs’.

The FAO Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Hussein Gadain, said the initiative was aimed at improving access to animal health services, especially in rural areas.

He said the training equipped the 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,” Mr Gadain said.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Adamu Ahmed, said the programme had helped to build the capacity of the trainees to provide basic animal health services and support livestock productivity.

The vice-chancellor, who was represented by the Director of the Division of Agricultural Colleges, ABU Zaria,  Bashir Babaji, 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, 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 and Oyo states as well as Adamawa State by 2026.

Ms Abdullahi added that future plans included a shorter, three-month course focused specifically on preventive animal healthcare.

Director of Livestock Services at the Kaduna State Ministry for Agriculture, Amwe Akos, who represented the commissioner, 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 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)