The National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) was established as a veterinary department in 1913.
Vision
A veterinary institute committed to research excellence and the production of quality vaccines for the livestock industry.
Mission
To be the foremost veterinary research institute in Africa, producing international quality vaccines, and offering services for the identification, control and eradication of economically important livestock diseases, through best practices, research excellence, and applying modern technology with highly trained, experienced and motivated personnel.
Control of animal diseases and the protection of human health
In pursuance of animal disease control and reducing the impact of zoonotic diseases on human health and livestock, the NVRI conducts research for the control of avian influenza, rabies, brucellosis and salmonellosis. Other priority research areas include transboundary animal diseases such as Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Newcastle Disease.
Dr Mohammed Sani Ahmed, Former Executive Director
NVRI continues to discharge its mandate of research in all aspects of animal disease, rapid surveillance and diagnosis, the provision of livestock extension services and the training of middle level manpower for animal health, animal production and medical laboratory services.
www.nvri.gov.ng
Dr David Shamaki was born on 20 March 1955 to Mr Shamaki Kyumah Yaro and Tichori Shamaki at Fori, Kagoma, of Jema’a LGA of Kaduna State. He had his primary education in St. James’ Primary School Fori, RCM Primary School Asso, NA Primary School Kyayya and St Andrew’s Primary School Kakuri Kaduna between 1960 and 1969. He then attended his secondary school at St John’s College now Rimi College Kaduna and then Higher School at Kaduna State College of Arts and Science and Technology, Zaria, from 1974 to 1976.
He is a 1981 DVM graduate of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria and has a Master’s degree in Microbiology and a PhD from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1986 and 2002, respectively and Fellow College of Veterinary Surgeons Nigeria (FCVSN) in 2010. He has more than 33 years of working experience as a Veterinary Research Officer and has held various research positions under various research programmes and projects and as administrator at the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom.
Dr David Shamaki has participated in the laboratory activities of the Pan-African Rinderpest Control Programme (PARC) and the Pan-African Programme for Control of Epizootic Diseases (PACE) funded by the European Union, which led to global eradication of rinderpest. He has also participated in research contracts activities and diagnosis of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) disease and African swine fever (ASF) in Nigeria funded by the Joint Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)/International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Programme for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. He also represents the National Veterinary Research Institute on the Standing Committee of the Association of Institutions of Tropical Veterinary Medicine with head office at the Office for International Cooperation (BIC), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
Dr David Shamaki has attended many training fellowships sponsored by the Joint FAO/IAEA Programme for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture in the application of enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and molecular technologies in animal diseases research and diagnosis. His research interests include molecular epidemiology of the PPR virus and related viruses and diagnostic virology. He has also undertaken two expert missions to Asmara, Eritrea for the Joint FAO/IAEA Programme for assessment of the execution of the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP); and training in cell culture and virus isolation, as well as an expert mission to the University of Njala, Sierra Leone to conduct a National Training Course on PPR and Newcastle disease (NCD) diagnosis.
Dr Shamaki has a wealth of experience in administration and community service, has attended 27 management-training workshops, fellowships and seminars locally and internationally, and has served on various Management Committees of the Institute. He has served as Chairman, Local Church Council, Parish Council, and Development Committee, St. Joseph’s Parish, Vom. He is a member of the Integral Development Commission, Catholic Arch-Diocese of Jos, and Chairman, Arch-Diocesan Rural Development Programme Board, Catholic Arch-Diocese of Jos and currently the Vice-Chairman of the Justice Development and Peace/Caritas Commission Catholic Arch-Diocese of Jos. He has also served as Chairman Gong (Kagoma) Development Association, Jos Branch from April 2003 June 2007.
Dr Shamaki is a member of the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (MNVMA) and a Fellow of the College of Veterinary Surgeons Nigeria (FCVSN). He has authored and co-authored 57 publications in referred journals and conference proceedings, and 43 presentations in professional conferences and seminars.
Dr Shamaki has teaching experience as Senior Lecturer on Sabbatical at the Amadu Ali Centre for Public Health and Comparative Medicine University of Agriculture, Makurdi in March 2014 March 2015. He has supervised seven theses and projects at Masters, HND and ND level.
Following the exit of immediate past Executive Director Dr M.S. Ahmed whose tenure ended on 4 October 2015, the administration of the Institute was handed over to Dr Shamaki, the most senior technical Director on 5 October 2015 and he has been performing the duties of Executive Director.
Dr David Shamaki is married to Mrs Rebecca Shamaki (Nee Ayuba Emmanuel Rok) and they are blessed with three children: Shonum Perpetua Shamaki, Shunanum Jessica Shamaki and Wyonnum Rebecca Shamaki.
E-mail: dshamaki@yahoo.com
Welcome Message by DR.M.S. Ahmed, Former Executive Director, National Veterinary Research Institute, VOM
What began in 1924 as a small laboratory for the production of anti-serum for the control of the deadly rinderpest scourge has today grown into a renowned institute; the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, with a wide mandate for livestock research, development and animal vaccine production.
From a single mandate in 1924, NVRI now has the responsibility for
- Conducting research into all aspects of animal diseases and their control.
- Developing and producing vaccines and sera.
- Providing surveillance and diagnosis of animal diseases.
- Providing extension services to poultry and livestock farmers
- Training of middle level manpower in animal health and production technology, and medical laboratory technology and veterinary clinical services.
The research projects of the Institute have been designed to deliver on the mandate and the mission. The key to the success of meeting the mandate is continued self-regulation and peer review to ensure that research is demand driven and generates technologies that will solve farmers’ problems. The huge demand for vaccines, disease surveillance and control has also made it imperative that high quality research is continuous.
NVRI has been accorded international recognition by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) as a regional laboratory for avian influenza and other transboundary animal diseases for West Africa. We are also a national laboratory for rabies diagnosis. In an effort to provide a high level safety environment for research into highly infectious diseases, the Institute is currently establishing a biosafety level 3 (BSL 3) laboratory with the support of the Canadian government. Upon completion, the laboratory will be able to handle highly infectious diseases such as Tuberculosis, Brucellosis and Lassa fever. In an effort to conform to good manufacturing practice, the Institute is also in the process of restructuring its vaccine production laboratories including the establishment of a new bacterial vaccine production facility.
In addition to vaccine and sera production, NVRI produces several ethno-veterinary products for the control of skin infections in both animals and humans. The progress and success recorded in this area culminated in the certification of some of these products which are ready for commercial production while others are undergoing clinical and toxicity trials.
It gives great pleasure to report also that extension activities of the Institute have continued to expand to address farmers’ constraints all over the country. The Institutes’ research programmes are demand driven with inputs from farmers. To ensure farmer input, the Institute produces and broadcasts programmes on radio in three major Nigerian languages and in special English. This serves as an avenue for famers to ask questions and share their concerns about livestock disease.
In spite of daunting challenges which include a down turn in the economy, decaying infrastructure and changing government policies, NVRI has over the last century fulfilled its mandate by addressing the control and eradication of the most devastating animal diseases such as rinderpest, trypanosomiasis, CBPP, FMD, avian influenza, Newcastle disease and others.
Having survived the last 100 years, we look forward to the next century with the hope of addressing future challenges. Emerging threats such as climate change will lead to shocks and stresses for livestock farmers resulting in the loss of assets such as productive land and animals leading to complex social responses. The challenge of emerging and re-emerging animal diseases will have to be faced and surmounted. NVRI is blessed with a cream of researchers and with continued training will continue to deliver on our mission of remaining a foremost veterinary Institution in Africa.
I am confident that with the commitment of staff and the support of government and other stakeholders NVRI will continue to fulfil its mandate for better animal and human health.
