The Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES), made a significant outreach to academia. On this occasion, the LPRES team “stormed” the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) campus, visiting the prestigious Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) within the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
The visit kicked off with a warm reception from the Director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Prof. C. O. Nwosu. Prof. Nwosu personally escorted the delegation to meet the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. J. Ihedioha, who extended a hearty welcome, underscoring the shared commitment to advancing animal health and agricultural development in Enugu State and beyond.
Dr. Ifeyinwa Elizabeth Nnajieze, the Enugu State Project Coordinator for LPRES, expressed her delight at engaging with the vibrant UNN community. She delivered a concise yet impactful overview of the LPRES project, highlighting its focus on improving livestock productivity, supporting smallholder farmers, and fortifying veterinary infrastructure nationwide.
The National Project Coordinator, Dr. Abubakar Sanusi, followed with words of gratitude to Prof. Ihedioha and the faculty. He announced exciting plans for LPRES to provide targeted assistance to the UNN Veterinary Teaching Hospital, backed by World Bank resources. Notably, out of seven veterinary teaching hospitals selected across Nigeria, UNN’s facility was prioritized, signaling its strategic importance in the project’s national rollout.
In a touching display of Igbo hospitality, the Dean presented kola nut to the guests—a traditional symbol of unity and goodwill. Prof. Anaga led prayers over the offering, invoking blessings for fruitful collaboration.The UNN community seized the moment to advocate strongly for a modern, state-of-the-art Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
In response, Dr. Sanusi assured them that a comprehensive needs assessment, coupled with a formal request, would pave the way for action. The National Animal Health Officer, Dr Mustafa reinforced this by outlining LPRES’s core objective: to strengthen veterinary laboratory and diagnostic capabilities across Nigeria’s regions, ultimately enhancing disease surveillance, farmer livelihoods, and food security.
The visit gained further prominence with representations from UNN’s top leadership. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Uchenna Otuanya, was ably represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration – Nsukka Campus), Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo. The Registrar’s office was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Kamoru Olayiwola Usman. The Dean formally introduced the LPRES delegation, with Dr. Sanusi confirming that the engagement marked an initial assessment phase to identify synergies and support opportunities.This visit not only fosters potential partnerships but also positions UNN as a key player in Nigeria’s livestock transformation agenda. Stakeholders anticipate swift follow-up actions to translate discussions into tangible upgrades for the VTH.
