Training veterinary doctors tasking, says MOUAU VC

VCN Inducts 35 Okpara University Graduates
Vice Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, Professor Maduebibisi Ofo Iwe, has explained that training veterinary doctors is a difficult task, which the institution is committed to in its College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM).

Speaking at the ninth oath taking/induction of 35 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine graduates, Iwe said MOUAU has continuously provided the enabling atmosphere for quality research by staff of the college, adding, “researchers in the CVM received one of the two TETFund 2020 National Research Fund (NRF) grants attracted by MOUAU.”

He also said that the College also had the highest number of awardees for TETFund 2021 institution-based Research (IBR) intervention in MOUAU.

To ensure optimum performance of the staff, he said that his administration consistently promotes academic and non-teaching staff of the college when they are due for promotion.

Iwe, who was represented by the school’s Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor Udo Herbert, charged the graduates to practice their profession conscientiously.

The graduates were at the event inducted into the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) by the body’s National President, Dr. Aishatu Abubakar Baju, an Assistant Inspector General of Police, who was represented by the Vice Chancellor, Joseph Tarkar University, Makurdi, Benue State, Professor Matthew Adamu.

She urged MOUAU to meet the criteria required to scale through the next accreditation inspection visit to avoid sanctions, just as she commended the university’s management for funding the college adequately despite the prevailing paucity of funds.

After administering the oath on the graduates, VCN’s Acting Registrar, Dr. Fadipe Oladotun, reminded them that the oath only symbolised their provisional entry into the profession, adding that their membership is subject to ratification or withdrawal after a one-year probation period.

Earlier, the Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Professor Josephat Onu, disclosed that new inductees were MOUAU’s 12th set of graduates, adding, “it is only when the graduates take the oath that the job of training veterinarians is completed.”

He listed the challenges facing the college as lack of a demonstration farm to raise food animals for the abattoir, insufficient senior academic staff, especially professors, non-availability of an ambulance bus, inadequate laboratory and office spaces and furniture.

Speaking on behalf of the new inductees, College’s overall best graduating student, Dr. Okpaga Chijindu Eke, regretted that their training lingered for eight years, instead of the normal six years, due to ASUU strikes and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he thanked God and commended the university management and staff for guiding them to the end of their studies.