By Hassan Ibrahim
Veterinary professionals have been urged to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies to transform animal healthcare from reactive treatment to predictive, preventive and precision veterinary medicine.
The call was made at the oath-taking and induction ceremony of 18 first-semester veterinary graduates of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where a keynote lecture was delivered on the theme, “Artificial Intelligence Application in Veterinary Science and Practice.”
Delivering the keynote lecture, Dr. M.B. Aliyu said AI was increasingly being deployed in veterinary clinics, research laboratories and livestock operations, with applications ranging from precision livestock farming and medical image analysis to disease diagnosis and the prediction of disease outbreaks days or even weeks before they occur.
He explained that animals often conceal signs of illness, making early detection difficult for veterinary professionals.
According to him, a cow suffering from early myositis could conceal its discomfort until its condition becomes serious, while a cat with renal failure could hide signs of deteriorating kidney function.
Dr. Aliyu, however, cautioned veterinary professionals against leaving the development and application of AI entirely to computer scientists and technology companies, stressing that veterinarians must take the lead because they understand animals, diseases, ecosystems and the communities they serve.
The keynote speaker therefore urged veterinary students and professionals at ABU to champion local research, contribute to African regional datasets, and ensure that AI algorithms are adequately trained and adapted to Nigeria’s indigenous breeds and tropical conditions.
Speaking at the occasion, the Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Professor Adamu Ahmed, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Advancement, Research and Innovation, Professor Sunusi Aliyu Rafindadi, said veterinary medicine played an important role in public health, food security and human society.
He encouraged the newly inducted veterinary doctors to embrace technological developments while remembering that technology should complement, rather than replace, professional judgment, integrity and compassion.
The Vice-Chancellor also urged the graduates to give back to ABU after leaving the institution, stressing that they should not wait until they became millionaires before supporting their alma mater.
The Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Professor Mohammed Kawu, said the ceremony marked the induction of 18 graduates into the veterinary profession.
He advised the new veterinary doctors to practise with integrity, honesty and hard work, while also embracing current trends in Artificial Intelligence and entrepreneurship to advance the profession, the university and the country.
He said the faculty would ensure that its graduates continued to uphold excellence and professional competence wherever they found themselves in Nigeria and around the world.
The Assistant Dean of the Faculty, Dr. Maruf Lawal, also congratulated the 18 graduates and reminded them that their induction marked the beginning of another important phase of their lives.
Dr. Lawal also appealed to the university community and other stakeholders to provide greater support to veterinary education, noting that veterinary programmes were expensive, tedious and demanding to run.
The oath of office was administered to the new veterinary professionals by the Acting Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Dr. Oladodun Fadipe, marking their formal induction into the veterinary profession.
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