Faculty of Veterinary Medicine

History

When Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) was established in 1962, it was decided to give particular attention to Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine. Therefore, in 1964, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was established at ABU following the signing of an agreement between the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Kansas State University (KSU). According to this agreement, KSU/USAID was to provide initial staff and equipment to the new Faculty to enable it develope the following:

1. a well-equipped Veterinary School to train and supply Veterinarians for Nigeria and the rest of West African countries;
2. a postgraduate training programme in Veterinary Medicine;
3. a research programme to improve Animal Health, production and Public Health in Nigerian;
4. train Nigerians to staff and assume major roles in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine as soon as possible; and;
5. advise on facilities and programme for future development and expansion of the Faculty.

When Professor G.K.J.L. Underberg arrived on September 15, 1964 as the first Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, there were no students, no curriculum, no staff members, and no physical facilities. In November of the same year, sir Norman Alexander the first Vice-Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), escorted Dean Underberg to a tall steel structure with a metal roof and a concrete floor and remarked, “this is where you may have your Faculty of Veterinary Medicine”. This former outdoor gymnasium, along with fifty acres of land, was the beginning of the physical plant for the Faculty. Soon buildings were erected (referred to as phase I) to house four Departments of the Faculty: Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, and Surgery and Medicine. Phase I was formally opened on November 19, 1965 and teaching started a month later.

Up to 1983 the clinical aspect in the DVM programme was handled by the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Medicine.  Funding was provided for the running of a Veterinary Teaching Hospital under the Deans office in 1984.  In 1988 the Veterinary Teaching Hospital was established fully and a substantive Director appointed in October the same year.  Statute 30 of A.B.U. of 1988 spelt out the functions of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.