Council Cautions Veterinary Graduates Against Unethical Practices

The President, Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Prof. Gabriel Ogundipe, has warned veterinary graduates against engaging in unethical practices or risk their licences withdrawn.

Ogundipe gave the warning in Nsukka last Saturday at the 34th oath taking ceremony of veterinary graduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

He said that the practising licence given to newly inaugurated veterinary doctors would expire within one year, then after the one year probation they would be issued with permanent professional licence.

“If within one year you involved yourself in unethical practice, the council will not issue you permanent licence.

“So if you want to practise the profession, stay away from unethical practices like issue of issuing certificate for animal heath not examined.

“You should ensure that your dressing and behaviour command respect to the profession,” Ogundipe said.

The president said the veterinary profession had immense employment opportunities in the civil service, research institutes, academic as well as private practise.

“You should be prepared to meet the challenges of a practicing veterinarian,” he said.

Ogundipe congratulated the newly inducted veterinary doctors for being found worthy in character and learning, urging them to always be good ambassadors of the profession.

The Vice-chancellor of UNN, Prof. Batho Okolo, urged the inductees to use the scientific knowledge acquired to serve humanity through the prevention of animal diseases, improved animal production and promotion of public health.

Okolo, who was represented by Prof. Malachy Okwueze, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, commended the contributions of the council in training students and reiterated his administration’s commitment to sustain academic and professional excellence in veterinary medicine.

“To sustain excellence in veterinary faculty, the university recently donated laboratory equipment to the faculty so that the institution’s products will continue to be the best,’’ he said.

Speaking earlier, the Dean, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Prof. Vincent Shoyinka, expressed appreciation to Okolo and the VCN over the strides recorded recently by the faculty.

The dean, however, called for office space for teaching and non-teaching staff, which he said was one of the challenges facing the faculty.

“Lack of office space for teaching and non-teaching as well as laboratory space is a challenge facing the faculty,” Shoyinka said.

He said that the set started with about 120 students in 100 level but only 40 graduated, noting that others could not make it to the end because of one reason or the other.

Miss Nnenna Ugwu was named as the best graduating student of the faculty for the year.

Dr Magnus Avong, the Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, administered the veterinary oath on the new doctors.