The present Faculty of Veterinary Medicine started as Department of Veterinary Science in 1963 in the Faculty of Agricultural Science of the University. The purpose of establishing the department was to provide in-service training for staff of Ministry of Agriculture with emphasis on animal nursing, disease identification, herd management and animal health. The department trained students for the award of Higher Diploma in Animal Health and Husbandry after 3 years.
However, in 1970, the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) programme was introduced and the first set of students comprising predominantly of diplomates who trained in the department were admitted. The programme took off with few lecturers such as late Dr O Nduaka and then Dr E C Ihemelandu (later Professor).
In 1975, the programme was given full status of a Faculty with 3 departments namely: Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology and Veterinary Medicine and Surgery. The Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery was headed by Professor K V Mally, an Indian with other lecturers in the department are: Dr L O Wosu (later Professor) and Dr C C Chukwu (later Professor).
In 1980, the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery was split into two departments namely: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Department of Veterinary Surgery. The Department of Veterinary Medicine had Professor M Uzoukwu as its first head of the department. The department also had in her services staff such as: Drs C. C. Chukwu (later Professor), L O Wosu (later Professor), M. I. O. Okolo, E. I. Ugochukwu, L. J. E Orajaka, U. E Uche and C O Emehelu with Mr D N Emelogu as the Secretary.
Presently, the department has more than 12 academic staff and 7 administrative and technical staff in its service. Also, the department is structured in units `such as: Small Animal Medicine with Professor B M Anene, Dr P O Akpa and Dr U. U Eze, Ruminant Medicine with Professor E I Ugochukwu and Dr I C Chukwudi, Porcine Medicine: Dr J. I. Eze, Avian Medicine: Dr G N Anosa, Dr N E Nweze and Dr O Okoroafor, Fish Laboratory and Zoo Animal Medicine with Dr P Animoke. The department is expanding and is gradually introducing Micro-livestock Medicine, Apiculture etc.
Since inception the department has trained many Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students and post-graduate students vis-à-vis Master of Science (M Sc) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph D). The departmental staffs have researched widely in areas of epidemiology, disease control, chemotherapy etc and has also published in both local and international journals.