FG, Nestle Nigeria Plc, Partner on Establishment of Dairy Skills Centre in FCT
The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with NESTLE Nigeria PLC, for the establishment of a Nestle Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre in the FCT, aimed at improving milk production in the country
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha who disclosed this in Abuja, Wednesday, explained that the partnership is not just a ceremonial agreement, but a bold intervention designed to address one of the critical bottlenecks hindering the growth of the dairy industry in the nation occasioned by technical capacity and practical farm management skills.
In a statement by Henrietta Okokon, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations in the Ministry, Maiha noted that the dairy sector has been caught in a paradox of immense potential and stark underperformance, despite the huge population of livestock production in the country.
“The reality is that our traditional pastoral systems, currently yields an average of merely one to two litres of milk per cow daily.”
This low productivity, he said “is directly linked to a systematic deficit in modern husbandry practices, inadequate feed formulation and lack of clean portable water, as well as impact of climate change and a lack of proficiency in essential areas such as artificial insemination, herd health management and milk hygiene leading to huge post – harvest losses”
The Minister highlighted that, “the combined impact of all these negatives is the huge import bill of 1.5 billion US Dollars of dairy and dairy products per annum by the country”,
According to him, the Nestle Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre is envisioned as a practical knowledge hub that will successfully transition Nigeria’s dairy farming from traditional methods to modern, globally competitive husbandry sector.
Maiha who advocated for theoretical knowledge as well as hands-on experience in farm management, directed that the curriculum for the centre be rigorously benchmarked against the best standards in the global dairy industry.
“Tthe curriculum must be structured to deliver 70 percent practical farm experience and 30 percent theoretical classroom teaching. The 70 – 30 split would ensure that the trainees do not just learn about dairy farming in the abstract, but will get their hands and boots dirty, mastering the dairy operations of a modern dairy enterprise” The Minister emphasized
He added that the trainees will therefore be exposed to technical skills from breeding, assisted birth, calf management, farm operations, record keeping, proper milking techniques and hygiene compliance to managing feed resources, ensuring optimal animal welfare for maximum production and milk processing .
Maiha commended Nestle Nigeria Plc for their unwavering commitment to the development of the local dairy value chain in the country
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, emphasized that the success of the partnership will be measured in farms that thrive, in children who are well-nourished, and in households that earn more because their work in livestock is supported and profitable.
She noted that the agreement is designed to turn resources, knowledge, and investment into concrete improvements for mostly farmers and producers nationwide.
Earlier, the Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer, Nestle Nigeria Plc , Wassim Elhusseini, disclosed that the MoU formalises the establishment of a Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre, which is a practical step towards strengthening the capabilities required to improve productivity, and quality of the dairy products for long-term sustainability in the sector. .
He added that the initiative aligns closely with the objectives of the National Dairy Policy under the National Development Plan, which seeks to catalyse growth in Nigeria’s livestock and dairy sectors.
“Through the project, Nestlé Nigeria has invested over 1.8 billion Naira to support dairy communities in and around Pai-Konkore and the Luger grazing reserves.” Elhusseini said
He added that the Company’s development investment has yielded significant impact which include – boosting milk producers’ monthly incomes from ₦70,000 to ₦250,000 (2021-2024). establishment of 83 dairy cooperatives aggregating 1 million+ litres of raw milk, training 2,000 pastoralists, vaccinating 36,000 cattle, investing in boreholes and cooling systems, as well as launching a demo farm showcasing 1-10 litres/cow/day productivity gains through improved practices
Representative of Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN), identified capacity building as one of the challenges that affect the livestock sector in Nigeria, noting that the signing of the MOU will address them accordingly.
The event featured goodwill messages from the former speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Bank of Agriculture, and other stakeholders in the dairy sector.
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