Professor Nusirat Elelu of the University of Ilorin highlighted the significance of diet quality on life, emphasizing the risks posed by animal diseases to human health during her 283rd inaugural lecture on veterinary public health.

She stressed that over 70% of recent emerging human diseases originate from animals and urged Nigerians to prioritize meat quality to safeguard health.

Elelu advocated for multidisciplinary approaches, like the One Health strategy, involving collaboration between veterinary and human health sectors for effective disease control and public health improvement.

She called for enhanced health surveillance, biosecurity education for farmers, and intensified public awareness campaigns to prevent zoonotic diseases and improve food safety in Nigeria.