AVMS UI 26TH ANNUAL PUBLIC LECTURE AND AWARD CEREMONY

 AVMS UI 26th ANNUAL PUBLIC LECTURE AND AWARDS CEREMONY; 2023

 With much glitz and glamour, yesterday 26th April, 2023, the Association of Veterinary Medical Students, University of Ibadan (AVMS UI) held her annual public lecture at the Faculty Auditorium. The lecture themed “ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE, A LOOMING PANDEMIC: ROLES OF VETERINARIANS IN ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP” for the year 2023 had in attendance over 180 persons, including dignitaries all around the veterinary sector, lecturers and the distinguished students of the noble faculty.

The opening prayer was said by the Vice President of the association, Omolade Bakare. This was followed by the singing of the National and School Anthems.  
The AVMS President, Fasiku Oluwatobi while giving his welcome address appreciated all the guests for honouring the invitation. He also thanked everyone for making the program a reality. He specifically expressed his gratitude to one of the keynote speakers, Dr. Maimuna for her unflinching support from the day they began planning the program. The president shared a story that inspired the topic before concluding on a note that antimicrobial resistance is a major challenge and that there is a need to know what is expected of us to curtail the problem.

Professor Olufunke Ola-Davies, the Dean of the Faculty, welcomed everyone to the event and explained that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is a global problem. She described AMR as a slow-moving threat to global health that is often overlooked. 'It is high time to explore definite alternatives to curtail the enormous increase in resistant pathogens. I believe today's program will highlight the cause of AMR and therapeutic alternatives.'

At about 10:55 am, the keynote speaker, Dr. Herman Barkema, Director of One Health and the Antimicrobial Resistance - One health consortium at University of Calgary Canada, came up virtually to speak on tackling antimicrobial resistance in humans and animals. He said in his presentation that “Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) are One Health issues because antibiotic residues end up in the environment and bacteria are not limited to species.” Due to technical inconsistencies, Dr. Herman Barkema was inaudible and his pre-recorded presentation had to be cut short. While giving his lecture on the topic, he described AMR infections as one that may kill as many as 10 million people annually by 2050 (WHO) and he suggested one health approach as well as surveillance, stewardship, research and innovation and infections prevention and control as solutions.

 Dr. Awoyele, a renowned poultry practitioner spoke on AMR in poultry farming. He said “Antibiotics aren’t supposed to be given, until all proper tests and laboratory findings have been strictly observed and that should be done before birds are sold or even consumed”. 

Dr. Moses Arokoyo addressed the undergraduate students saying “it doesn’t matter how things are going with academics to each individual, it should not make you feel like a failure. With God’s help you can become the greatest in life, do not be stuck and do not let it lower yourself esteem”.

Speaking on the subject matter, the second keynote speaker, Dr. Maimuna Habib, Former Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria delineated laws that the government has put in place to fight AMR. She also spoke on veterinarians' roles in making policies put in place feasible. She said veterinarians should help prevent diseases thus reducing the need for antimicrobial drugs. They should also ensure effective biosecurity, effective vaccinations and encourage farmers to use alternatives to antimicrobial drugs such as prebiotics and probiotics.
Besides highlighting the importance of laboratory tests before using antimicrobial drugs, Dr. Maimuna also encouraged doctors to educate and sensitize farmers and colleagues about the dangers associated with AMR. She concluded her speech by persuading veterinarians especially those working at hospitals to set up stewardship committees as this would go a long way in curtailing the resistance of microbes to antimicrobial drugs.

The Chairman of the day, Dr Ayoola Oduntan, Group Managing Director, Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery Ltd commended everyone for honouring the program. He shared how Amo Farm came up with the innovation of Noilers as well as the benefits it has brought to the company, Nigeria and Africa at large. He added that the Nigerian population can be leveraged to generate money and help humanity. He therefore challenged veterinarians to provide food via poultry to serve the great Nigerian population. This will enable you to be extremely rich and contribute to humanity. He finally encouraged students to never give up: 'you will make it if you don't give up.'

Also speaking at the event was Dr (Mrs) Layide S. Azeez, Director of Veterinary Services, Oyo State. She pledged government support for any private bodies ready to curtail the ARM.
Dr. Awoyele, a seasoned poultry veterinarian also spoke about AMR in poultry farms. He encouraged an effective diagnostic structure and discouraged antibiotic use instead of probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics.

 FUNDRAISING

Shortly  before the program came to a close, Dr. Tayo Alayande was brought up to anchor the fundraising session. He firstly talked about fundraising and the essence to the faculty. To that effect, Dr. Maimuna gave #100,000 (hundred thousand naira) to support the faculty, Dr. Ayoola Ountan gave #250, 000 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira), Dr. Alao gave #50,000 (fifty thousand naira), Dr. Kayode Femi as represented by Dr. Tolulope gave #50,000 (fifty thousand naira). 

 

Dr. Moses Arokoyo emphasized on the student internship that is worth #250,000-#300,000 per month, making 5.4 million per annum and promised that 2 students would be picked from the AVMS UI among the 3 other students from other schools, making a total of 5 interns. Before he stepped down from the stage, he promised to give #50,000 (fifty thousand naira) to the faculty. Dr. Ibrahim gave #20,000 (twenty thousand naira). Dr Phyllis gave #20,000 (twenty thousand naira) and Dr. Tayo Alayande closed this session with a sum of 20,000 (twenty five thousand naira) as a promise to the faculty.

Present at the event were faculty staff, Dr Ibrahim Akande, Prof. Oridupa Olayinka and Prof. Oyeyemi to mention a few. Awards were presented to Prof. Victoria O. Adetunji, Dr. Oduntan Ayoola, Dr Moses Arokoyo, Dr. Layide  S. Azeez, Dr. Maimuna Habib, Dr. Alao Mooshood and Dr.  Kayode Femi ably represented by Dr. Tolulope.
Donations followed immediately after the awards ceremony and both the awardees and doctors present donated considerably to the AVMS. The program came to an end at some minutes to 2pm.