News in Brief:
Nigerian animal health workers express concern about the struggling livestock industry and called on the government to involve them more in revival.
The Nigerian Association of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists (NAAHHT), Oyo state chapter, has urged the government at all levels to actively engage and empower animal health professionals to revitalise the nation’s struggling livestock industry.
During their annual retreat in Ibadan, themed ‘The Cushioning Impacts Of Animal Health Technologists In The Livestock Industry In Nigeria Today,’ members highlighted their crucial role in ensuring the sector’s optimal functioning yet expressed concern about its decline.
Prince Olaolu Adetunji Laoye, representing the association, emphasised the rising cost of protein and the challenges faced by the poultry and broader livestock industry, attributing it, in part, to difficulties in sustaining the sector.
“We cannot remain idle while the industry collapses,” Laoye stated. “This retreat aims to prepare us for the challenges ahead and explore ways to contribute effectively to prevent the industry’s downfall”.
He appealed to the federal government, in particular, to actively involve the animal health technologists in government initiatives related to livestock, allowing them to contribute their expertise meaningfully.
Echoing this sentiment, NAAHHT Oyo State chapter Chairman Mr. Olayinka Oluwatoyin emphasized the retreat’s purpose of reaffirming members’ core responsibilities and fostering collaboration between students, lecturers, researchers, and other professionals to address industry challenges.
This call for increased government support underlines the growing concerns within the animal health sector and highlights the potential contribution of trained professionals in addressing the livestock industry’s challenges.
