Engaging the private sector for stronger veterinary services: A conversation with Nigeria’s Chief Veterinary Officer
published on
04/03/2025
written by
Rahul Srivastava
Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Project Manager in WOAH’s Capacity Building Department, Dr Srivastava is leading efforts to integrate PPPs within the PVS Pathway and promote collaboration with stakeholders globally. He holds a Masters in Veterinary Medicine and an MBA in Agribusiness, with 17 years of experience across public, private, and international development sectors in South Asia and Africa.
Following his impactful address at the 26th Conference of the WOAH Regional Commission for Africa (RC26), I had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Columba Teru Vakuru, Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) / WOAH Delegate for Nigeria and Chairman of the ECOWAS Regional Community of Veterinarians.
During the conference, Dr. Vakuru’s speech had resonated strongly with the audience, particularly his statement, “sustainable success does not come by chance”. He called for clear result-oriented actions with measurable outcomes, focusing on engaging the private sector in an inclusive, efficient and market-oriented approaches to strengthening veterinary services across Africa.
You emphasised the need to prepare the veterinary workforce for both current and future challenges. Could you elaborate on this?
Dr. Vakuru: Absolutely. The reality is that the continent’s veterinary workforce is currently stretched, especially in rural areas where disease burdens are more but services are either minimal or absent. If we want to protect animal health, public health, and enhance the livestock value chain and economy, we need to invest in continuous needs-based training. It’s not just about today’s needs—we must anticipate future risks, whether it’s emerging diseases, climate change impacts, or trade-related sanitary standards as well as disruptive factors such as natural disasters, insecurity and conflicts. Our workforce must be equipped with the skills to respond and address these challenges in a timely manner.
You also spoke strongly about Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). Why do you see them as essential for veterinary services?
Dr. Vakuru: Given risk posed by the shrinkage of resources, it is obvious that the public sector alone cannot efficiently provide all the veterinary services as critical essential social services needed. The private sector already plays a huge role, from private animal health service providers serving livestock farmers to pharmaceutical companies producing vaccines and other veterinary medicinal products. The key is structured collaboration in a win-win manner.
If we integrate private veterinary professionals into national disease surveillance and response systems, for instance, we enhance early detection, response and control of outbreaks.
Similarly, by working with private companies, we can improve availability and accessibility and affordability of genuine vaccines, veterinary medicinal products as well as distribution and facilitation of wider coverage particularly in the rural areas.
When public and private actors work together, we achieve better service delivery, improved disease control, and a more resilient livestock sector; maximise the efficient use of resources.
You highlighted the crucial link between strong veterinary services and trade, especially within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). What role do you see for veterinary services in boosting trade?
Dr. Vakuru: Trade in animal and animal products is highly dependent on strong veterinary services. Countries that cannot prove their products are disease-free face trade restrictions in regional and global markets. AfCFTA gives us an opportunity to expand intra-African trade, but that will only happen if we meet basic international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards.
If we invest in veterinary infrastructure, surveillance, and quality assurance, we open doors for more exports, create wealth and improve our economy. The private sector can help us here as well—whether through private laboratory diagnostic services for disease testing, private investment in export-quality abattoirs and establishment value chain based compartments.
The stronger our veterinary services, the more Africa can benefit from livestock trade, both within and beyond the continent.
Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO), Nigeria
–WOAH Delegate for Nigeria
You emphasised that sustainable resources not coming automatically. How do we ensure continuous investment in veterinary services?
Dr. Vakuru: First, we must make the case that veterinary services are critical essential social services for public good. Veterinary services contribute to food security, economic growth, and public health wealth creation, nutritional security and employment generation for livelihoods. If governments recognise this, they will allocate more resources.
Second, engaging the private sector means shared responsibilities and commitments. When private actors see value in investing in animal health—whether through service delivery, vaccine production, or diagnostics—they bring in resources.
Finally, donor agencies and international partners are more likely to invest if they see strong national commitment and clear frameworks for sustainable veterinary services. That’s why we must move beyond policy discussions and focus on implementation result-oriented actions.
As our conversation wrapped up, Nigeria’s CVO reiterated his key message: “Africa must be proactive. We cannot wait for resources to come to us; we must create the right environment for investments in veterinary services”. His words reflected a sense of urgency. Strengthening veterinary services is not just about protecting animal health—it’s about safeguarding livelihoods, enhancing trade, and driving economic growth.
The path forward is clear:
a harmonised strategic plan, structured private sector engagement, investment in the veterinary workforce, and strategic PPPs are key to ensure Africa’s veterinary services are efficient, sustainable, and future-ready. The time for action is NOW.
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