FUNAAB, Ogun State Government Mark World Tuberculosis Day with One Health Focus

The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) joined the Ogun State Government and other stakeholders to commemorate World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, 2025, under the theme: “Yes! We can end TB- Commit, Invest Deliver.”

The Ogun State Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Ministry of Health, collaborated with the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH), FUNAAB, to raise awareness of Tuberculosis (TB), its prevention, treatment, and the global fight to end the disease. The awareness campaign was held on Sunday, March 23, 2025, with the Director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Prof. Olugbenga Kehinde, stressing the significance of Tuberculosis as a zoonotic disease, one that spreads between animals and humans. The event also featured participation from other Veterinarians from FUNAAB.

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As part of the activities marking the day, the Tele-Education for Clinicians and Leaders in Africa (TeCLA), a private Continuous Education Provider accredited by the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), partnered with FUNAAB’s College of Veterinary Medicine to host an online lecture on Tuberculosis. The theme of the lecture was “Interplay of Wildlife and Tuberculosis: A One Health Perspective”. The University was represented by Prof. Oladele Talabi, an expert in Ruminant Medicine, alongside Dr. Adeniyi Egbetade, a Senior Lecturer and Wild Animal Health Consultant, who served as the hub expert.

They both agreed that Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease affecting both humans and animals, including cattle, goats, sheep, and wildlife. The disease is characterised by the development of tubercles in affected organs. Importantly, wildlife species, such as non-human primates, deer, buffaloes, and elephants can serve as reservoirs of TB, transmitting the disease among themselves, to domestic animals, and even to humans through direct contact, aerosol transmission, or contaminated environments.

Recognising the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, experts at the event emphasised the One Health approach as a critical strategy for TB control. This multidisciplinary approach requires collaboration across Veterinary Medicine, public health, and ecology to develop integrated control measures.

To effectively address the wildlife-domestic animal-human TB interface, stakeholders stressed the need to strengthen cross-sector collaboration between Veterinarians, medical professionals, ecologists, and policymakers, consider ecological factors influencing disease transmission, and develop integrated control strategies tailored to Nigeria’s public health and wildlife conservation needs.

With human TB remaining a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, greater attention must be given to the role of wildlife in disease transmission. Experts advocate for a comprehensive, One Health-based strategy to curb the spread of tuberculosis and safeguard both human and animal health.

Yes! We can end TB- Commit, invest, deliver!