The Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (Kogi L-PRES) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the One Health approach through multi-sectoral collaboration during its quarterly stakeholders’ engagement meeting held in Lokoja.
Organized in collaboration with the Kogi State Ministry of Livestock Development, the meeting convened key stakeholders from the livestock, environmental, public health, and veterinary sectors. It served as a strategic platform to review progress, identify existing gaps, and reinforce coordinated actions under the One Health framework within the state.
In his address, the Commissioner for the Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Olufemi Bolarin, stated that the one-day stakeholders’ engagement was convened to strengthen the One Health platform in Kogi State.
According to him, the meeting was both timely and significant, especially in the face of increasingly complex public health challenges, including zoonotic diseases, environmental threats, and antimicrobial resistance.
The Commissioner, who was represented by Mr. Akubo Charles, Director of Administration, emphasized that “it has become abundantly clear that a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach is not just beneficial but essential. The One Health approach, integrating the efforts of veterinary officials, medical doctors, and environmental health professionals; represents a visionary pathway to a healthier, safer, and more resilient society.
“Your presence here today is a testament to our shared commitment to safeguarding the health of humans, animals, and the environment. It is also a recognition that no single discipline can succeed in isolation. Our strength lies in unity, collaboration, and mutual respect. I commend the organizers of this engagement for their dedication and foresight. I am confident that today’s deliberations will yield actionable insights and foster deeper partnerships that will enhance the implementation and sustainability of the One Health platform in Kogi State and beyond.”
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Mr. Otaru Abdulkabir Onoruoyiza, in his welcome remarks, noted that the L-PRES project has incorporated support for One Health activities within its core design documents, the Project Appraisal Document (PAD) and Project Implementation Manual (PIM) as a critical component of the Animal Health Subcomponent. This aligns with the Project Development Objectives (PDO), which aim to improve productivity, commercialization, and resilience of targeted livestock production systems, while strengthening the country’s capacity to respond to eligible crisis or emergencies.
The State Project Coordinator, who was represented by Mr. Oloninisi Adeniyi, Animal Husbandry Officer of the project, highlighted that earlier in the year, the project organized a training session for health workers on the One Health approach, a milestone that underscores efforts to enhance collaboration and coordination among stakeholders.
“This initiative aligns with the Kogi State Government’s unwavering commitment to improving healthcare delivery and livestock productivity,” he said.
