The Principal of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) Prof. Frank Norbert Mwiine has advised incoming students admitted under the AFRISA program to utilize the opportunity before them by gaining skills that will help them transform their lives and the community.

The advice was delivered in a message by the Head of the Department of Livestock and Industrial Resources (LIR) Dr. Dorothy Nampanzira who represented the Principal at an event organized to orient the new students admitted on programs in the different industrial value chains offered by Makerere University under the AFRISA program, tenable at CoVAB on Wednesday 21^st August 2024.

Students were admitted on a number of industrial value chains that include;

1.  Education and Industry
2. Poultry Industry and Business
3. Dairy Industry and Business
4. Feed Industry and Business
5. Leather Industry and Business
6. Pig Industry and Business
7. Meat Industry and Business
8. Bee Industry and Business 
9. Fish Industry and Business
10. Wildlife Industry and Business

‘Makerere University is a brand. You are going to get quality education and your coming here was the right decision and the right choice’ said Dr. Nampanzira, while addressing the students that will offer certificate and Diploma programs.  While making reference to the content of the Makerere University Anthem that among other things states that We build for The Future, the she advised the incoming students to aim at acquiring the skills that will help them become job creators rather than job seekers. Try your best to transform yourself and become what you desire to be.  The knowledge here is for you to be the best version of yourselves.

Dr. Nampanzira said the world today is faced with a scarcity of jobs, with many people seeking employment opportunities and many governments struggling with job creation. The courses of your choice at CoVAB will enable you become job creators and you will be able to employ other people hence providing solutions to such global challenges. She said by coming to the university you are your own job creator and so take up the opportunities availed at the institution.  She informed the students that Makerere University was a place of discovery with potential for growth from various angles and encouraged them to make use of the resources like the Library, the sports facilities, the University Hospital as well as the counselling and guidance center in case of need.

 In the area of academics, Dr. Nampanzira urged to students to demand for their rights to getting taught and be vigilant to ensure that they get value for their money. She explained the options available for career growth from certificate to Ph.D. and asked them to aim high, irrespective of their current program.