VETERINARY COUNCIL OF NIGERIA HOSTS SECOND ANNUAL STAFF RETREAT TO DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH VIA RENEWED HOPE AGENDA

Abuja, FCT, Nigeria – January 14, 2026 – The Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), supported by its committed staff of 35 professionals, will convene its second annual three-day retreat from Monday, January 26, 2026 to Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at a secure venue in Abuja.

This event builds directly on 2025 milestones generously funded by Propcom+—including logistics for VCN’s inaugural retreat, comprehensive review of the Community Animal Health Curriculum, Veterinary Surgeons Act, and development of the Council’s first-ever Strategic Plan (2026-2030)—strategically repositioning staff for implementation excellence.

Acting Registrar Dr. Oladotun Ebenezer Fadipe stated: “Propcom+’s landmark support in 2025 delivered VCN’s first staff retreat, the revised Community Animal Health Curriculum, Veterinary Surgeons Bill, and Strategic Plan 2026-2030. This retreat equips our team to operationalize this historic framework, aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development’s Nigerian Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS). For the first time in VCN’s history, we possess a comprehensive strategic roadmap—demanding enhanced capacity for regulatory excellence in animal health, public safety, and livestock productivity.

“The retreat integrates VCN within NL-GAS’s ten strategic pillars, strengthening regulation of veterinary training and practice to mitigate zoonotic diseases (implicated in over 75% of human illnesses), secure food supply for 200 million Nigerians, and drive GDP growth through enhanced production of beef, milk, hides, and skins.

Dr. Helen Ego Oputa-Chime, Deputy Registrar, added: “Following last year’s retreat amid budget exclusion, we’re now budget-restored and strategically positioned. The first retreat in January 2025 stimulated and encouraged our staff to keep up their momentum and commitment to work amid prevailing circumstances – being out of budget for over a year. Now, with the promise of restoration of the Council to the federal budget, we’re picking up the eight points of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

From this, our supervising Ministry developed NL-GAS with ten pillars, and VCN is finding its place as critical stakeholders in the livestock industry—regulating training and practice of veterinary medicine to ensure animal health, public health, and wholesome meat and food of animal protein sources reaching the tables of 200 million Nigerians, ensuring food security as one critical pillar. VCN is indispensable: we regulate animal health caregivers for healthy pets, security animals, and livestock; if disease burden isn’t handled, human life is endangered—more than 75% of human illnesses are directly or indirectly from animals.

We ensure premises meet global best practices, curb zoonotic spread, improve public health, enhance livestock productivity in beef, milk, hides, and skins for consumption and export—increasing GDP, boosting the Nigerian economy, and improving livelihoods. It’s Animal Health for Human Health.

“The event expects a distinguished lineup of dignitaries, including:The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development (FMLD)The Honourable Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Permanent Secretary, FMLD Permanent Secretary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON)President, VCN, and all Board members President, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA)Chairman, NVMA FCT Abuja Chapter Kubwa Vet Community National Universities Commission All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN)Animal Care Consult Country Representative, Propcom+Country Lead, FAO (ECTAD)Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)All tenants of VCN’s building Dr. Gideon Mshelbwala, former CVONVCN regulates veterinary medicine and practice in Nigeria under the Veterinary Council Act, ensuring healthy animals for public health, food security, and economic growth.

Visit www.vcn.gov.ng for more.