Veterinary Profession: Potential Tool for the Realization of Nigerian Vision 20-20-20

Abstract

As several countries make effort towards meeting the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria are evolving policies and programme to address issues of sustainable development. The adoption of the framework of the MDGs, and its continents instrument: New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) has provided a platform for the articulation in Nigeria of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS), which laid emphasis on reforming government and institutions, growing the private sector, implementing a social character and value reorientation. It has wealth creation, poverty reduction and employment generation as cardinal areas of emphasis. However, the seven point agenda of the previous administration of Alhaji Umar Yaradua, who declared her intention to pursue the vision of placing Nigeria among the 20 largest economies in the world by 2020 and the current leadership of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is committed to the attainment of this vision through its transformation agenda. This comprehensive frame-work focuses on sustainable growth in the real sector of the economy, which seeks to facilitate improvement in physical infrastructure, power and energy, transportation, agriculture, capital development, education, health, security, rule of law, combating corruption and tackling the Niger Delta problems. Therefore, it is imperative that veterinarians who are very important professionals are properly positioned and adequately prepared to live up to high expectations in the area of food security, control of livestock diseases, integrated disease surveillance and response. This paper seeks to highlight the role of veterinary profession in the attainment of MDGs, as well as challenges and prospective ways through which veterinarians could contribute to the achievement of Nigeria vision 2020. KEY WORDS : Nigerian, Veterinarians, Millennium Development Goals, Empowerment, Food security.