The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) and Propcom+ are strengthening efforts to improve the quality, accessibility and sustainability of veterinary services in Nigeria through a new partnership focused on strengthening collaboration between private veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs).

The partnership follows the signing of a Programmatic Partnership Agreement between both organisations several months ago. As part of efforts to translate the agreement into practical action, representatives of the NVMA and Propcom+ recently convened an alignment workshop to discuss implementation priorities, clarify roles and establish the next steps for the programme.

Building a Stronger Veterinary Service Delivery Model

At the centre of the programme is a pilot model that will position 20 private veterinarians as supervisors to 100 veterinary paraprofessionals across five model states.

The approach recognises an important reality within veterinary service delivery: veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals play complementary roles in ensuring that livestock farmers and animal owners can access timely and appropriate animal health services.

Veterinary paraprofessionals are an important part of the animal health workforce, particularly in areas where access to veterinarians may be limited. However, effective supervision, clear professional boundaries and appropriate referral mechanisms are essential to ensuring that services delivered at the community level meet professional and regulatory standards.

Through this programme, participating veterinarians will provide structured supervision to VPPs while also strengthening their own private practices and business operations.

Why Veterinary Supervision Matters

Veterinary medicine involves responsibilities that extend beyond the treatment of individual animals. Veterinary professionals contribute to disease prevention and control, food safety, antimicrobial stewardship, animal welfare and the protection of public health.

For this reason, the effective integration of veterinarians and VPPs requires clearly defined roles and appropriate professional oversight.

The programme seeks to strengthen the supervisory role of veterinarians in line with the global standards and principles promoted by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Rather than viewing veterinarians and VPPs as separate components of the animal health system, the model promotes a more coordinated approach in which each cadre operates within its defined scope while working towards a common objective: improving access to quality animal health services.

Strengthening Businesses Alongside Professional Practice

An important feature of the initiative is its focus on both professional practice and business development.

For the 20 veterinarians and 100 VPPs involved, the programme is expected to provide opportunities to strengthen the sustainability of their businesses while improving the way veterinary services are organised and delivered.

A stronger private veterinary ecosystem can potentially create more viable service providers, improve access to animal health products and services, and provide livestock farmers with more reliable points of contact for professional advice and animal health interventions.

This is particularly relevant as Nigeria continues to explore ways of improving livestock productivity and strengthening private-sector participation in the country’s animal health system.

The Role of State Veterinary Authorities

The success of the model will also depend on collaboration with relevant regulatory stakeholders.

The programme is expected to involve State Directors of Veterinary Services (DVSs) and the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) to provide the necessary regulatory oversight and ensure that implementation remains consistent with existing professional and regulatory requirements.

This collaboration is important because strengthening veterinary service delivery requires more than individual practitioners working together. It requires alignment between private-sector actors, professional associations, regulators and government veterinary authorities.

From Pilot to National Scale

The initial implementation across five model states provides an opportunity to test the approach, identify challenges, document lessons and measure its impact.

If the model demonstrates measurable success, the experience could provide a basis for broader adoption and potential national scale-up.

A successful scale-up could contribute to a more coordinated veterinary workforce, stronger private veterinary businesses and improved access to quality animal health services across more communities.

Ultimately, the partnership between the NVMA and Propcom+ represents an opportunity to move beyond discussions about veterinary workforce development towards a practical model of collaboration, supervision and private-sector growth.

By strengthening the relationship between veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals, the initiative aims to build a more effective animal health service delivery system, while ensuring that professional standards and regulatory responsibilities remain at the centre of the process.

The success of the pilot will therefore be closely watched, not only by the participating professionals and institutions, but also by livestock farmers and other stakeholders who depend on accessible, reliable and quality veterinary services.