In its bid to tackle animal diseases in the country, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has inaugurated a newly built animal health care center at the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, while handing over the center to the college management on the day of the inauguration, noted that the center was constructed to improve the capacity of the college to effectively provide quality animal healthcare services.
Umakhihe, who was represented at the occasion by the Oyo State coordinator of the ministry, explained that the center will also provide a level playing field for graduates of the college to compete effectively in their chosen careers by providing quality care services for animals and preventing infectious diseases like anthrax and lassa fever.
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He assured that the ministry will continue to support the college in order to achieve its aims, adding that the handover of the facility to the college was to enhance proper management and utilization and to ensure its sustainability.
According to him, sustainability of the infrastructure facility should be a collective effort by ensuring that proper management procedures are put in place and documented appropriately to ensure an enabling learning and working environment for both the students and staff of the college.
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Also speaking was the provost of the college, Dr. Adekoya Owosibo, who appreciated the ministry for providing the facility in the college while explaining that the center would assist the college in effective training of the students in areas of animal health and technology.
The provost pointed out that the center will not only help lecturers at the college in the area of research but will also impact the immediate community by mitigating diseases affecting animals and other livestock in the state.
