Young Veterinarians Get N42m Start-Up Boost from NVMA, Farm Alert Initiative

The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), in collaboration with Farm Alert, has disbursed a total of N42 million in grants to young veterinarians across Nigeria, as part of an ongoing initiative to empower fresh graduates in the field and curb unemployment through entrepreneurship.

The announcement was made in Abuja on Friday during the third edition of the Vetpreneurship awards, where nine young veterinarians—referred to as “Vetpreneurs”—each received N1 million in start-up capital.

Dr. Moses Arokoyo, National President of NVMA, stated that the program, which began last year, has so far disbursed N42 million to support young veterinarians in establishing viable businesses. He emphasized the association’s commitment to fostering private sector-led growth in the veterinary profession.

> “Today, we are doing what we call Vetpreneurship 3.0,” Arokoyo said. “We are giving out N9 million to awardees who have gone through rigorous selection processes. With this, we will have disbursed a total of N42 million to young veterinarians since the programme’s inception.”

Arokoyo explained that around 80 percent of veterinarians in Nigeria operate in the private sector, highlighting the need to support them with capital and training to bolster their entrepreneurial capabilities.

> “We want to empower them to step out with courage and become entrepreneurs,” he added. “Any profession is only as strong as its private sector. Through this initiative, we are building a solid veterinary community and contributing to solving Nigeria’s unemployment challenges.”

He also noted that the program incorporates a monitoring and evaluation framework, including Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track the progress of beneficiaries and ensure accountability.

In his address, Dr. Musa Inuwa, Chief Veterinary Officer of the Federation, congratulated the recipients and urged them to use the funds wisely. He assured that the Federal Government would continue to support young veterinarians by creating an enabling environment for their businesses to thrive.

Inuwa also referenced the recent creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development by the Tinubu administration, stating that veterinarians are well-positioned to play a central role in the country’s livestock and dairy development agenda.

Also speaking at the event, Professor Abdulkadir Usman Junaidu, former Commissioner for Animal Health and Forestry in Sokoto State, praised the programme as the “best business initiative in recent years.” He expressed optimism that the grants would generate employment, foster wealth creation, and have a multiplier effect on the wider economy.

One of the recipients, Dr. Agboola Waliu Olasunkanmi, expressed gratitude for the support, noting that the grant would help him equip his mini-veterinary diagnostic centre in Lagos State.