The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, on Monday inducted 35 veterinary doctors into professional practice.
The Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Saliu Ameen, disclosed this during the 7th oath-taking and induction ceremony held in Ilorin.
Ameen said the inductees had fulfilled all academic, ethical, and professional requirements for the award of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree.
He explained that the ceremony marked the transition of graduands from students to full members of a globally relevant and noble profession.
According to him, the veterinary profession entrusts practitioners with responsibilities for animal health and welfare, public health protection, food security, and the advancement of biomedical science.
He noted that the oath-taking and induction remain a long-standing professional tradition symbolising commitment, accountability, and service.
“By reciting the veterinary oath administered by the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), these graduands publicly pledge to uphold the highest standards of veterinary ethics and practice. They have promised to deploy their knowledge and skill for the benefit of animals, humans, and the environment, an affirmation that aligns with the One Health paradigm linking animal health, human health, and ecosystem balance,” he said.
“The induction also marks the formal licensing of these young doctors as veterinary professionals. Without the oath, their academic degree alone would not authorise them to practise. It is therefore both a celebration of academic achievement and a legal rite of passage into the profession,” he added.
The President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Prof. Mathew Adamu, represented by the Vice President, Haleema Gambo, urged the graduands to uphold professional ethics, integrity, and compassion in their service.
According to him, “taking care of animals as veterinary doctors means they are indirectly taking care of people of the nation.”
Speaking on behalf of the graduands, Ms Babalola Kareemot commended their lecturers for their mentorship and guidance throughout six years of rigorous study.
She also appreciated their parents for their spiritual, moral, and financial support and urged her colleagues to be good ambassadors of the institution and the nation.
(NAN)