The University of Ibadan Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, held its 55th Oath Taking and Induction Ceremony, formally admitting 54 new veterinary doctors into the profession.
The ceremony, which took place at the faculty auditorium, commenced at about 10:00 a.m. and attracted a host of dignitaries from academia, government, and the veterinary profession. Among those in attendance were the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Kayode Adebowale; President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Matthew Adamu; Acting Registrar of the council, Dr. Fadipe (represented); Chairman of the occasion and Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin; Dean of the Faculty, B. O. Olugasa; and the induction lecturer, Tunji Nasir, Chief Executive Officer of Truthmiles Animal Hospital and President-Elect of the World Veterinary Association.
Rt. Hon Debo Ogundoyin(Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly); Chairman of the occasion.
Other notable attendees included the President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Moses Arokoyo; the Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development (represented); the Chaplain of the Chapel of Resurrection, Venerable Oladele; alongside faculty members, awardees, and invited guests.
In his opening remarks, the Dean, Prof. Olugasa, expressed gratitude for the successful hosting of the ceremony and congratulated the inductees on reaching a significant milestone. He urged them to uphold the ethics, professionalism, and standards associated with the veterinary profession.
Delivering his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adebowale, also congratulated the graduates and the faculty for producing another set of highly trained professionals. He noted that completing the rigorous academic programme of the university was no small achievement and encouraged the new veterinarians to uphold the institution’s legacy of excellence and integrity.
The induction lecture, delivered by Dr. Nasir, focused on the intersection of climate change, animal production, and global food security. Drawing from his professional experience, he challenged the new veterinarians to not only excel in clinical practice but also position themselves as contributors to global policy and development initiatives. He emphasized the need for veterinarians to be actively involved in decision-making processes to drive meaningful change.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Day, Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin, underscored the importance of food security, describing it as integral to national security. He highlighted ongoing government efforts in the sector and called for the establishment of a technical committee to develop a framework for the urgent revitalization of the Eruwa Veterinary Station. He further pledged a sum of ₦2 million towards the initiative and assured that the proposal would be presented to the state governor.
He maintained that food security and public health are inseparable pillars of economic stability, positioning veterinarians as critical actors in safeguarding both.
Speaking on the Eruwa Veterinary Field Station, Ogundoyin traced its origins to 1977, when over 2,000 acres of land were made available through the intervention of the late Oba Bolanle Olaniyan and the Eleruwa-in-Council.
The major highlight of the ceremony was the administration of the veterinary oath by the Deputy Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Helen Oputa-Chime, who formally inducted the graduates into the profession, followed by the presentation of certificates.
Prof. Lekan Oyejide Awards which included a sum of $500 which was given to the Dean's Office and a sum $2,000 to the Department of Veterinary Pathology.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to outstanding students. Dr.Adisa Tomiwa received the Prof. Silas Onwuka Award for the Best Graduating Student in Anatomy, while Dr. Raji Oyelade Olasubomi emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Student in Theriogenology.
Additional recognitions were given to top-performing students across various departments, including
Veterinary Anatomy: Sunday Victor
Veterinary Physiology: Saliu Opeyemi
Veterinary Biochemistry: Oluwaseyi John
Veterinary Parasitology: Okedigba Tolulope
Vetrrinary Microbiology: Jimoh Uthman
Veterinary Pathology: Ameen Fatimah
Veterinary Pharmacology: Ameen Fatimah and Fisayo
Veterinary Surgery: Dr. Eze Joseph
Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine: Dr. Adaramoye Hephzibah
Vetterinary Medicine: Dr. Akinleye Aishat
The Dean awarding a veterinary student, Ameen Fatimah (DVM IV) for her excellence.
Faculty awards were presented to Dr. Nasir, Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin, Olusola Oyelotan, Oyebanji Adeniyi, and Taiwo Gbadebo for their contributions to the field.
In a notable moment, Dr. Arokoyo presented the Farm Alert “Outlier Award” to Aweda Bolaji, a former Students’ Union President of the University of Ibadan. He also announced a cash gift of ₦100,000 each to the best graduating students, Aweda Bolaji, and the class representative as a gesture of support.
The Best Graduating Students for the 2024/2025 academic session were listed as Akinleye Aishat and Eze Joseph, both with eight distinctions, alongside Adaramoye Fifunmi, who graduated with four distinctions.
The ceremony concluded with a vote of thanks, goodwill messages from parents and class representatives, and a closing prayer.
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