After overcoming initial teething accreditation difficulties, the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) has expanded her academic programmes to include a Post Graduate (PG) programme in Veterinary Medicine.

Vice Chancellor of MOUAU, Prof. Hilary Edeoga, announced this yesterday during the oath-taking ceremony of 19 Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), graduates of the College of Veterinary Medicine of the institution.

Edeoga said the first batch of PG students were admitted in the 2015/2016 academic session.

It would be recalled that the Senate of MOUAU had approved the course in 2004 but the university encountered difficulties in meeting accreditation requirements by the Veterinary Council, resulting in students studying Veterinary Medicine spending extra years until full accreditation was obtained in 2013, courtesy of the efforts of the Edeoga administration.

The vice chancellor said his administration has recruited senior and eminent Professors in Veterinary Medicine, Theriogeneology, Clinic, Veterinary Anatomy and Veterinary Pathology to fortify the College of Veterinary Medicine.

He said the Professors, four of whom are Fellows of Academy of Science, would supervise research and moderate the undergraduate teaching to ensure high standards.

According to him, an order has been placed for state-of-the-art equipment for the College research and Post Graduate training, two vehicles for ambulatory clinics would soon be provided while a new block was being constructed to end the accommodation problems of the College.

The vice chancellor assured that his administration would continue to “attach great importance to the training of Veterinary Doctors,” “support all programmes and activities geared towards the enhancement of research, teaching and learning,” in order to produce quality Veterinary surgeons.

He congratulated the new DVMs for their diligence and hard work, adding: “As you get into your professional service to humanity and our country, I urge you to remember all that you have been taught and remain good ambassadors of your alma mater.”

The Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, Prof. Arunsi Ukairo Kalu, praised Edeoga for being the “prime mover behind the successes of the Veterinary College,” for conscientiously attending to its numerous needs, assuring that the College would reciprocate with production of high quality veterinarians.

Kalu expressed optimism that the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) currently inspecting facilities of the College would grant it a “full accreditation for a five-year period,” saying it would afford the College and the university great benefits.

President of VCN, Prof. Garba Sharubutu, represented by the Chairman of Vetrinary Council Accreditation, Prof. Onyeyili Patrick, enjoined the new DVMs to be hard working, reminding them that Veterinary Medicine was a noble profession.

Registrar of VCN, Dr. A.M. Avong, administered the oath on the new Veterinary Surgeons, after which the Chairman of Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Dr. Edgar Sunday, represented by National Secretary, Dr. Sati Ngulukun, admitted the graduates into the association, charging them to maintain high standard of professionalism and creativity.

Dr. Chrisantus Uzoma, who emerged the Best Graduating Student, in his speech, expressed the gratitude of the graduates to the university authorities and all who contributed to making them achieve the feat they have attained while reminding his colleagues that the challenges confronting them now were bigger than the ones they encountered as green horns at MOUAU.

•Photo by Boniface Okoro shows a cross section of the graduands . . . yesterday at Umudike, Abia State.