Korede Abdullah 
ADO-EKITI, Nigeria – The Ekiti State Government has trained 100 livestock and veterinary officers in disease prevention, biosecurity practices, and herd health management to strengthen animal health systems and improve food safety across the state.
The three-day seminar, organised under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), focused on preventing outbreaks among cattle, sheep and goats, while promoting safe and sustainable livestock production.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Ebenezer Boluwade, on Friday said maintaining livestock health was crucial to public health.
“Animal health is essential to human health because what you eat is what you become,” he said.
Boluwade added that improper use of drugs and vitamins contributed to disease-resistant infections, stressing that prevention through biosecurity measures remains the most effective protection strategy.
Participants trained will now serve as community extension officers, supporting farmers across the state in adopting global best practices.
The State Project Coordinator, Olayinka Adedipe, explained that the programme enhances surveillance systems and reduces risks of zoonotic disease spread.
“Our focus is to ensure only healthy animals enter the food chain,” he said.
The initiative aligns with Ekiti’s broader agricultural strategy to expand livestock productivity, reduce disease losses, and protect consumers.
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