FUNAAB Student Wins ₦500,000 at National Veterinary Competition as 11 Finalists Take Part

Oluwafemi Kehinde, popularly identified as Kehinde Mercy, a 600-level Veterinary Medicine student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has emerged First Runner-Up in the VITAL 2 Project National Veterinary Students’ Competition, earning a ₦500,000 cash prize among 11 finalists drawn from accredited veterinary schools across Nigeria.

Held on September 16, 2026, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, the competition focused on ruminant vaccines and vaccination, bringing veterinary students into a national contest centred on animal health and disease prevention.

Janet Galadima of the University of Jos took the grand prize of ₦1 million, while Kehinde secured second place with ₦500,000. Asonibare Ayomipo of the University of Ilorin finished as Second Runner-Up, receiving ₦300,000.

The event formed part of the Veterinary Innovations Transforming Animal Health and Livelihoods (VITAL) 2 project, organised by GALVmed in partnership with Ikore International. The initiative seeks to improve ruminant vaccination rates, strengthen disease awareness and promote sustainable private-sector veterinary service delivery across Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania.

A defining moment came when all 11 contestants signed the Ruminant Vaccination Pledge, committing themselves to advancing livestock health and disease prevention. The pledge placed the competition’s emphasis beyond academic performance, calling attention to the role future veterinary professionals can play in improving vaccination practices and protecting livestock.

Kehinde’s national placement was subsequently celebrated at FUNAAB. On October 8, 2026, a delegation from the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine (COLVET), led by its Dean, Professor Michael Takeet, visited the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Babatunde Kehinde, to present the award plaque and acknowledge management’s support for the student’s participation.

Professor Takeet said the Vice-Chancellor had approved Kehinde’s participation in the competition. He noted that her performance had brought distinction to the student and strengthened the university’s visibility on a national platform.

Professor Morenike Dipeolu, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), also expressed appreciation for the Vice-Chancellor’s sustained support for COLVET, noting that management had consistently backed the College’s academic and professional initiatives.

In response, Professor Babatunde Kehinde described the result as a source of immense joy, commended the College for projecting FUNAAB positively and urged the student to sustain her performance. He also assured the delegation of continued management support, reminding Kehinde and the visitors that “the reward for hard work is more work.”

The competition placed students from different accredited veterinary institutions alongside one another in a field with direct implications for livestock health and agricultural livelihoods. Kehinde’s result brought a ₦500,000 award to FUNAAB, while the vaccination pledge signed by all 11 finalists underscored the responsibility the initiative seeks to promote among Nigeria’s emerging veterinary professionals.