Professional Development Needs of Veterinary Extension Officers in Sokoto State: A Training Needs Assessment

This study conducts a systematic training needs assessment for veterinary extension officers serving livestock farming communities in Sokoto State, located in Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone. Veterinary extension officers serve as critical intermediaries between research institutions and livestock farmers, and their professional competency directly influences the uptake of improved animal health and husbandry practices. Using a cross-sectional descriptive design, structured questionnaires and focus group discussions were conducted with 80 veterinary extension officers across six agricultural zones in Sokoto State. The instrument assessed current competency levels across 22 professional domains including diagnostic skills, farm management advisory, vaccine administration, record-keeping, and communication skills. Farmer satisfaction surveys involving 120 livestock producers provided triangulating evidence on extension service quality. Findings revealed significant competency gaps in small ruminant health management (identified by 74% of officers as a priority development need), livestock reproductive management (69%), and digital record-keeping (81%). Farmer satisfaction scores were lowest for the frequency of farm visits and the technical Veterinary Medicineh of advice provided. Only 28 percent of officers had received in-service training in the preceding two years. The study recommends a structured annual professional development programme delivered through the Veterinary Council of Nigeria and Sokoto State Ministry of Livestock, with emphasis on practical clinical skills, modern extension communication tools, and small ruminant health management. Keywords: veterinary extension, training needs, Sokoto State, professional development, livestock services.