Victor Ezeja
Nestlé Nigeria has joined forces with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to launch a Dairy Technical Skills Development Programme.
The initiative aims to enhance the quality and volume of milk production in Nigeria, addressing critical needs within the dairy sector.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelA statement signed by Nestlé Nigeria’s spokesperson, Victoria Uwadoka, said the deal was formalised through a Letter of Intent (LOI) signed on Monday in commemoration of World Milk Day 2025.
According to the statement, the Letter of Intent “reflects a shared commitment to develop mid-level technical and vocational skills essential for strengthening Nigeria’s dairy value chain, ensuring food security, improving nutrition, and fostering sustainable livelihoods.”
It further stated that the partnership will focus on:
- Establishing capacity-building programmes centred on milk production, processing, hygiene, and management.
- Promoting industry-relevant skills through training modules developed in collaboration with stakeholders.
- Enhancing milk quality and productivity across local dairy clusters through knowledge sharing and technical support.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, expressed confidence that the programme would have a significant positive impact on job creation and the economy generally.
“Nestlé has built capacity to provide targeted training programmes on best practices in dairy farming adapted to the Nigerian context,” Elhusseini stated. “This is why the Letter of Intent signifies more than a formal agreement; it reflects our mutual dedication to bridge the gap in mid-level technical skills within the dairy sector to meet the growing demands of the market.
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“We are confident that this will have a positive impact on our communities by creating more jobs, improving livelihoods, and supporting a stronger economy.”
On his part, Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, said the Federal Government has, since the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development, taken significant steps to address the challenges facing the dairy value chain.
“Under the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, we are focusing on key pillars, including livestock value chain development and feed and fodder improvement,” Maiha stated.
“Our collaboration with Nestlé Nigeria will lead to the commissioning of a Dairy Training Centre in Paikon Kore, Gwagwalada, aimed at building mid-level manpower and training farmers to enhance productivity through modern practices.”
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From the launch of its Dairy Development Project (NLDP) in 2019, Nestlé Nigeria has been actively contributing to the enhancement of the dairy sector. The NLDP has established 83 dairy cooperatives, benefiting over 3,000 milk producers and has aggregated more than 1 million litres of raw milk. Nestlé has also trained over 2,000 milk producers in best practices, vaccinated over 36,744 cattle, and facilitated water access through the construction of 19 boreholes and 28 water troughs.
These efforts have led to significant improvements in milk quality, reducing rejection rates from 12% in 2021 to as low as 5% in 2024, while monthly revenue for milk producers has increased from ₦70,000 in 2019 to ₦250,000 in 2024.
The launch of the Nestlé Dairy Demonstration Farm provides a practical model to illustrate how best practices can safely increase milk production of local breeds from an average of 1 litre per cow per day to over 10 litres.
Following the launch, the Minister invited Nestlé Nigeria to convert the farm into a training institute, an opportunity that Nestlé accepted leading to the signing of the LOI.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
