Nestlé and Federal Ministry of Livestock Development Partner to Launch Dairy Skills Development Initiative
Nestlé Nigeria has embarked on a strategic partnership with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to establish the Dairy Technical Skills Development Program. This initiative was formalized through the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI), coinciding with World Milk Day 2025, with the goal of boosting milk production quality and volume across Nigeria.
The collaboration underscores a shared commitment to developing skilled mid-level technical and vocational workers vital to strengthening Nigeria’s dairy value chain. The program aims to advance food security, improve nutrition, and generate sustainable livelihoods through targeted capacity-building efforts.
Key focus areas of the partnership include:
– Developing training programs on milk production, processing, hygiene, and management.
– Promoting industry-relevant skills through tailored training modules designed with stakeholder input.
– Improving milk quality and productivity across local dairy clusters through technical support and knowledge sharing.
During the signing ceremony, Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, stated, “Building on our global dairy expertise, Nestlé has developed capacity to deliver targeted training on best practices in dairy farming tailored to Nigeria’s needs. This LOI is more than a formal agreement; it embodies our shared commitment to bridge the skills gap in the dairy sector, meet market demands, and positively impact communities by creating jobs and fostering economic growth.”
The Honorable Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, added, “Since our ministry’s inception, we have made significant strides in addressing dairy sector challenges. Under the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, we focus on key pillars such as livestock value chain development and feed improvement. Our partnership with Nestlé Nigeria will support the operationalization of the Dairy Training Centre in Paikon Kore, Gwagwalada, which aims to build mid-level manpower and train farmers in modern dairy practices.”
Since launching its Dairy Development Project (NLDP) in 2019, Nestlé Nigeria has made impactful contributions to sector growth. The initiative has established 83 dairy cooperatives, benefitting over 3,000 milk producers and aggregating more than 1 million liters of raw milk. Over 2,000 milk producers have received training in best practices, and the company has vaccinated over 36,744 cattle while improving water access through the construction of boreholes and water troughs.
These efforts have led to notable improvements—milk rejection rates declined from 12% in 2021 to 5% in 2024, and monthly earnings for milk producers increased from ₦70,000 in 2019 to ₦250,000 in 2024.
The launch of the Nestlé Dairy Demonstration Farm exemplifies best practices by demonstrating how local breeds can be increased from an average of 1 liter to over 10 liters of milk per cow per day. Following the farm’s success, the Honorable Minister invited Nestlé Nigeria to convert it into a training institute. Nestlé welcomed this opportunity, which culminated in today’s signing of the LOI.
By investing in Nigeria’s dairy future, Nestlé is committed to building capacity for a sustainable, prosperous industry that supports national development.