FG targets 37,000 women, youths in dairy value chain

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to create economic opportunities for 37,000 women and young people across Nigeria’s dairy value chain as part of efforts to boost local milk production, strengthen food security and reduce dependence on dairy imports.

Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, disclosed this in Abuja during a road walk organised to commemorate the 2026 World Milk Day celebration. The event, observed globally every June 1, is themed “Celebrating Women Dairy Farmers: Promoting Fresh Milk Consumption for a Healthy Nation.”

Represented by his Special Assistant, Prof. Eustace Iyayi, the minister said the initiative, currently undergoing stakeholder consultations, would focus on skills development, enterprise integration, cooperative strengthening, access to finance, technology transfer and sustainable livestock production.

He said the programme was designed to empower women and youths, who remain central to dairy production, processing and marketing activities across the country.

“The ministry is also exploring the establishment of women-led milk aggregation and processing cooperatives aimed at increasing market reach, strengthening local value addition and improving access to processors.

“We also intend to improve milk storage systems, provide mobile veterinary support and expand extension services tailored specifically to women dairy producers who often shoulder the dual responsibility of livestock production and household care,” Maiha said.

The minister noted that the commemoration offered an opportunity to recognise the contributions of dairy farmers and families to food security, nutrition, rural livelihoods and economic growth.

According to him, women play critical roles in milk production, preservation, storage, processing and marketing, making their inclusion essential to the transformation of the dairy sector.

Maiha described women and youths as a key pillar of the ministry’s growth strategy.

“They are the human resource pillar of the sector. Whether it is dairy, poultry, sheep or goat production, people remain at the centre of every success story.

“We have recognised women and youths as strategic stakeholders in our transformation agenda, and we are committed to promoting gender-responsive policies that create greater opportunities through improved dairy productivity, skills development, milk aggregation systems, value addition and enterprise support initiatives.

“The ministry remains committed to building a dairy sector that is productive, inclusive, equitable and sustainable,” he said.

The minister further explained that World Milk Day, coordinated globally by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, highlights the importance of milk and dairy products to nutrition, livelihoods and economic development.

He noted that the dairy industry was undergoing significant transformation globally and in Nigeria, citing data from the International Dairy Federation, which shows that global milk production now exceeds 780 million metric tonnes annually.

According to him, rising populations, urbanisation and increasing income levels continue to drive higher dairy consumption across developing economies.

“The global reality of milk production and consumption presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Nigeria.

“Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest consumers of dairy products, with annual demand estimated at about 1.7 million metric tonnes.

“However, local production currently ranges between 600,000 and 700,000 metric tonnes annually, leaving a significant supply gap.

“This gap continues to fuel heavy import dependence and foreign exchange expenditure estimated at about 1.5 billion dollars annually on dairy products,” he said.

Earlier, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr Chinyere Akujobi, said the road walk reflected a collective commitment to improving nutrition, promoting healthy living, advancing sustainable livestock development and strengthening Nigeria’s dairy industry.

Represented by Dr Victor Egbon, Akujobi stressed the importance of collaboration among government institutions, private-sector operators and development partners in unlocking the sector’s potential.

She said stronger partnerships would be critical to increasing local milk production, reducing import dependence and positioning dairy development as a strategic driver of national food security and economic growth.

Tags: #DairyIndustry #WomenEmpowerment #YouthDevelopment #LivestockDevelopment #WorldMilkDay #NigeriaAgriculture #FoodSecurity #IdiMaiha #DairyValueChain #FGNews