July 10, 2025

  

Nigeria taps AI to enhance livestock disease management

Nigeria is increasing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to combat animal diseases and enhance productivity in its livestock sector, which accounts for 35% of the country's agricultural GDP and provides 37% of the animal protein consumed.

 

On July 4, the government approved the national rollout of VetWiz 2.0, a mobile AI platform developed by Farm Innovation Nigeria. The tool aims to improve veterinary services, especially in remote areas, by facilitating early diagnosis and treatment of livestock diseases.

 

Farm Innovation Nigeria CEO Chinwe Owhorji said the app enables field agents to identify symptoms, get treatment recommendations, contact certified vets, and locate nearby clinics—all through a smartphone.

 

Chief Technology Officer Olawale Arowolo added: "The tool transmits real-time data to institutions like the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI). It supports, not replaces, veterinary professionals by offering smarter analytics for better outcomes."

 

The launch of VetWiz 2.0 builds on an expanding AI-driven ecosystem in Nigeria's veterinary landscape. Startups like Evet Africa, founded in 2021, have developed tools such as Vetable AI, which diagnoses diseases via smartphones and connects users to physical clinics.

 

Other players like Doorcas Africa (2023) and Farmspeak Technology (2019) combine AI and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to improve health monitoring and disease prevention. These platforms aim to reduce losses, protect farmer incomes, and enhance food security.

 

Animal disease remains a serious threat. According to Samuel Anzaku, Chief Veterinarian at the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, VetWiz 2.0 will help prevent outbreaks and guide evidence-based decisions.

 

A June 2025 study in the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition estimates Nigeria loses US$26 million annually to bovine fasciolosis, while bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, and salmonellosis cost US$2.9 billion, US$1.5 billion, and US$3 billion respectively.

 

These diseases not only lower livestock productivity—especially milk yields—but also increase veterinary care costs, threatening the livelihoods of small farmers and national food security.

 

Nigeria sees AI as a tool to reverse these trends by empowering rural communities and modernizing livestock health systems.

 

-      Ecofin Agency