FG Appoints CP Aisha Abubakar-Baju (DVM, PhD) to Head Vet Council
The Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) now has a new Board to pilot its affairs since the last one was dissolved in 2015. The Council is now led by Dr. Aisha Abubakar-Baju, a commissioner in the Nigeria Police at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
While inaugurating the Council, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Nanono, charged them to pursue its mandate regarding the regulation of standard of veterinary training and practice in accordance with the law.
“It is our expectation that you pursue the mandate of the Council, which include regulating the standard of training and practice of veterinary medicine in Nigeria, in accordance with the provisions of the enabling act (Veterinary Surgeon Act) without rancour and conflict, among others,” he said.
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He urged the council to deal with challenges confronting the livestock sub-sector, such as disease prevention, enforcement of veterinary laws, among others.
Dr. Aisha Abubakar-Baju, president of the Council, promised a new dawn and told quacks that their days were numbered. “Part of my manifesto is to ensure enforcement of our existing laws, so as commissioner of police, it will not be a problem for me to ensure we enforce these laws,” she said.
Dr Bala Muhammad, the vice president of the Council, said with a new Board led by a commissioner of police as president, veterinary laws would be reinvigorated and enforced.
Other members of the Board include deans of faculties of Veterinary Medicine in notable Nigerian universities, among others.
Who is CP Aisha Abubakar-Baju PhD
CP Aisha Abubakar-Baju (DVM, Ph.D) From Adamawa is a role model for African Women, distinguished abusite and a pearl among women in the field of science. She is currently serving as a Commissioner of Police, and Head of Nigerian Police Force Animal Branch, Abuja.
Aisha Abubakar Baju was born in 1971 and she joined the Nigerian police force in 1995. She studied at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria from 1987 to 1994 graduating with a degree in veterinary medicine (DVN). She bagged her PHd from the University of Plymouth in 2007.
She joined the Nigeria Police Force as an ASP, after her service year in 1995 and was promoted to the rank of commissioner of police in 2016.
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In 2005 she won a UNESCO fellow award for her proposal to use DNA to identify the link between human and bovine tuberculosis. By taking samples from cows and people she could evaluate the risk that Nigerians made when they drank unpasteurized milk. The award enabled her to complete the research at the University of Plymouth.
The other two African women who bagged UNESCO Awards along with her were Mrs. Kirakoya Fati of Burkina Faso and Mrs. Boni Cisse, Catherine of Cote d’Ivoire.
The National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award was conferred on Dr. Aishatu Abubakar Baju by The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR on November 28, 2019.
Congratulations ma, I am proud of you my only Boss. I know you have the integrity and capability to do just as you said even more as you do it before. I pray God to give you wisdom, guidance and protection as you pilot the affairs of the Veterinary Profession.