Mr Babagana Ahmadu, a national of Nigeria, is a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. He holds an M.Sc. in Tropical Animal Production and Health from the University of Edinburgh, UK and a Ph.D. in Veterinary Medicine (Livestock Development) from the University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia. He began his career in 1988 as Livestock Development Officer in the Livestock Credit Unit of the Nigerian Agricultural Cooperative and Rural Development Bank, Kaduna, Nigeria. In 1989, he became Assistant Lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. From 1993 to 1995, he worked as Lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Zambia. In 1995, he returned to the University of Maiduguri as a Research Fellow/Lecturer in Animal Production and Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. From 1997 to 2000, he was Senior Research Fellow/Lecturer at the Department of Disease Control, Samora Machel School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia. From 2000 to 2004, he served as Senior Veterinary Officer, Department of Animal Health and Production, Ministry of Agriculture, Botswana. In 2004, he was appointed Director, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Mr Ahmadu succeeds Mr D. Bowen as FAO Representative in the Gambia.