A leading Nigerian veterinarian has warned that overlooking cultural norms, gender roles, and household power dynamics may undermine livestock development strategies, worsen inequalities, and threaten national food security.

Dr. Junaidu Maina, Chief Executive Officer of J.M. Global Associates Ltd, shared the insight in a recent reflection on his four decades of experience in livestock health and policy. According to him, some of Nigeria’s greatest failures in the livestock sector are not due to lack of technical knowledge but to the “known unknowns” often ignored in policymaking.

Lessons From Rinderpest: Trust Built, Trust Fading

Recalling the devastating Rinderpest outbreak of the 1980s, Dr. Maina noted how pastoralists lost entire herds overnight, with cattle carcasses littering highways. The introduction of the Tissue Culture Rinderpest Vaccine (TCRV), which gave lifelong protection, not only wiped out the disease but also transformed attitudes toward veterinary medicine.

This success story created a ripple effect: pastoralist communities that had seen their cattle saved by vaccination became strong supporters of human immunization campaigns such as polio eradication and national child vaccination programmes.

However, Dr. Maina cautioned that this trust is now at risk as anti-vaccination sentiments spread across Africa, threatening progress against animal diseases that already account for over 20% of livestock production losses annually.

“Swift action is essential to rebuild confidence in vaccines, cut antimicrobial misuse, and reduce economic losses,” he stressed.

Policy Missteps: Ranching vs. Pastoralism

Dr. Maina also criticized policies that fail to align with Nigeria’s realities. He cited a 2017 anti-grazing law in a Nigerian state, where pastoralism was outlawed in favour of ranching—wrongly promoted as a “global best practice.”

Instead of solving challenges, the policy criminalized traditional livestock keeping and triggered long-running conflicts, showing how poor contextual understanding can create unintended crises.

The Invisible Owners: Gender & Household Dynamics

Household dynamics, Dr. Maina argued, are another blind spot. In many polygamous families, wives discreetly own and manage cattle, while husbands are publicly assumed to control the herd.

This misrepresentation often skews interventions: programmes that provide vaccines, feeds, or training fail when responsibility for costs and benefits is unclear.

A striking example came during Nigeria’s 2006 Avian Influenza outbreak. Compensation schemes were designed to support poultry farmers, but since many women could not legally open bank accounts, payments went to their husbands. The result? The true flock owners—mostly women—were excluded from recovery support.

A Call for Inclusive Innovation

Looking forward, Dr. Maina urged leaders to embrace digital financial services, livestock telemedicine, and gender-responsive innovations. He emphasized that equity is central to productivity:

“Livestock development is not just about animals. It is about fairness, resilience, and food security for millions of households.”