As the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association holds its annual conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on more than a century of veterinary development in Nigeria. The first Veterinary Department was established in Zaria in 1913, marking the beginning of a vital component of Nigeria's agricultural, public health, and economic infrastructure. Through disease control, livestock development, food safety regulation, and scientific research, the profession has made enduring contributions to national development.
The roots of organised livestock administration in Nigeria predate colonial rule. In Northern Nigeria, livestock management was overseen through the institution of the Sarkin Shanu, which supervised grazing areas, stock routes, livestock markets, slaughter facilities, and seasonal livestock movements. The Jangali cattle tax, levied mainly on pastoral cattle owners, supported livestock administration and governance across Northern Nigeria until its abolition by the federal government in 1975.
Modern veterinary administration formally began in 1913 with the establishment of the Veterinary Department in Zaria. Initially responsible for livestock census activities, disease surveillance, and the control of infectious diseases, the department laid the foundation for what would become one of Nigeria's most important agricultural institutions. F. R. Brandt was appointed the country's first Chief Veterinary Officer and helped organise veterinary services on a more structured basis.
A further milestone came in 1924 when veterinary laboratory and research activities were transferred from Zaria to Vom on the Jos Plateau. The favourable climate and strategic location made Vom an important centre for research, diagnostics, and vaccine production. Over time, it evolved into the National Veterinary Research Institute, Nigeria's foremost veterinary research establishment.
The early years of veterinary practice were marked by formidable challenges, including rinderpest and trypanosomosis. Veterinary officers relied on surveillance, quarantine, and treatment programmes to protect livestock and pastoral communities. Their responsibilities extended beyond livestock diseases to controlling agricultural pests such as locusts, grasshoppers, and Quelea birds.
Developing skilled personnel was equally important. The establishment of the Veterinary School in Vom in 1941 marked a turning point in veterinary education. The University of Ibadan established Nigeria's first Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 1963, followed by Ahmadu Bello University in 1964. These institutions laid the foundation for modern veterinary training and produced generations of professionals.
Among the profession's most significant achievements was Nigeria's contribution to the eradication of rinderpest. Veterinary officers travelled across vast and often difficult terrain, vaccinating livestock and implementing disease-control measures that ultimately eliminated one of history's most devastating animal diseases. The profession's regulatory framework matured alongside these developments, with the Veterinary Surgeons Ordinance of 1952 providing statutory regulation for veterinary practice.
Key points
- The establishment of the first Veterinary Department in Zaria in 1913 marked the beginning of veterinary medicine in Nigeria.
- The profession has made enduring contributions to national development through disease control, livestock development, food safety regulation, and scientific research.
- Nigeria contributed to the eradication of rinderpest through the efforts of veterinary officers.
