Philosophy
The DVM program is structured to inculcate the understanding of basic anatomic and physiologic features of a range of normal animals as a prelude to the assessment of deviations in various disease conditions. Â The inter-relationship of production, disease and management must be appreciated. Â The program emphasizes the philosophy that the profession exists to alleviate the suffering caused by diseases to animals, encourage production of animals, to satisfy various human needs and to ensure human health by prevention of Zoonotic diseases. Â The aim of the program is to produce well trained graduates who will become self-employed veterinarians. Â The professional program is based a 20-week semester.
The DVM Professional program develops and exposes the students to multi-disciplinary dimensions of modern livestock health management, production and public health, in order to produce high level Veterinary manpower in the country. Â The program also, prepares students for high level academic and research capabilities. Â The concepts of veterinary economics and entrepreneurship have been incorporated to expose the students to the ever increasing trend towards private veterinary practice.
Objective
The broad base objective of the program is to produce highly motivated and adaptable Veterinary Surgeon, who is well equipped to embark on a successful career in Veterinary practice, public health and preventive medicine; in biomedical, and livestock industries, and who is to become the academic teachers and researchers of the future.
The program aims to promote excellence, achieve and sustain high national and international standing in teaching and learning through provision of broad and balanced foundation courses in Veterinary Medicine with adequate practical exposure; developing in the students’ ability to apply biomedical knowledge and skill to clinical problems, disease control, livestock production, and to environmental problems; developing in the students a range of transferable skills of value in clinical and non-clinical employment; and providing the students with knowledge and skills from which they can pursue further studies in specialized areas of Veterinary Medicine and in multidisciplinary areas.
Scope
The program is designed to inculcate a good understanding of Veterinary Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Pathology as a prerequisite for effective animal health care delivery. Â It also highlights the inter-relationship of the environment, system of animal production and disease conditions in animals. Â Thus, the program emphasize on the cardinal roles of Veterinary profession namely, the prevention and alleviation of animal suffering and the promotion of human health through supply of wholesome animal products and the prevention of zoonoses.
Job Opportunities
Veterinary medicine is closely related to human Medicine, as well as, pharmaceutical, biological and animal sciences. Â Thus its study is of importance in understanding public health and ecological problems. Â With this background and education, the Veterinarian has many employment opportunities. Â Some of the existing career opportunities in Veterinary Medicine in Nigeria are as follows:
Government Services: Federal, State or Local Governments with assignments in food animal production, disease control and eradication, meat inspection, public health, animal disease research and administrative positions.
Public Health: Veterinarians are employed by several agencies for formulating and enforcing many food and sanitary laws related to public and animal health.
Teaching and Research: Veterinarians are employed in various Veterinary and Medical Faculties, Research Institutes, Veterinary Biological production and Animal Diseases Investigation Centres and in schools training Livestock Assistants, Superintendents, Public Health Officers and other Veterinary farm personnel.
Industry: Those dealing with development and production of pharmaceuticals and food for both human and animal use as well as in their quality control and marketing employ Veterinarians.
Private Practice: With increase in number of companion animals (dogs, cats, birds) being reared by Nigerians, performance animals (Horses) and commercial liverstock production in private and public sectors, private Veterinary practice has become the most lucrative avenue for self-employment of Veterinarians in Nigeria.
Extension Veterinarians: Mostly employed by Federal or State Ministries for disseminating the research findings of Veterinary Faculties and Research Institutes to livestock and poultry farmers as well as identifying the problems in the field that can be solved by the above Faculties and Research Institutes.
Fish, Zoo and Wildlife Medicine: With the establishment of more wild life game reserves and zoo and fish ponds there is increased scope of employment for Veterinarians in these areas.
Police Force: With increase in the number of mounted troops and police dogs more Veterinarians are recruited by Nigerian Police Force to cater for the welfare of these animals.
Nigerian Army: Â The Nigerian Armed Forces also recruit Veterinarians as Officers to cater for the welfare of animals used by mounted troops.
Ministry of Environment: The Ministry of environment also recruit Veterinarians as officers to cater for the welfare of animals, especially in disaster prone areas through bio-security and rescue operations.
National Agency for Food, Drug and Administration Control (NAFDAC): The NAFDAC recruit Veterinarians as officers to control and regulate the production and importation of veterinary biological and other veterinary drugs for use in the country.
General Information
The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine offers a degree programme leading to the award of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. Â The course extends over a minimum of 6 years for JME candidates and 5 years for Direct Entry candidates. Â It comprises of pre-professional phase of one year duration and professional phase of five years duration (DVM I to V).
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