Abia State is set to pioneer advanced dairy farming and milk processing facilities, making it the first of its kind in the southeastern region of Nigeria.
Governor Alex Otti has received a proposal for the establishment of this project from Blue Ribbon Limited, in collaboration with Afimilk, a renowned Israeli agro-processing firm.
During a meeting with the management of Blue Ribbon, led by Sir Idris Wabara, Otti gave his tentative approval pending further discussions and details.
Wabara, a native of Ohambele in Ukwa East Local Government of Abia, highlighted the project’s potential to boost the state’s economy and improve the livelihoods of its citizens by enhancing agricultural productivity.
He explained that by producing milk and other dairy products locally, the project aims to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported dairy products.
Additionally, Wabara stressed the need to train locals to ensure a mutually beneficial partnership that will foster skill acquisition and innovation within the country.
“What we want to do is to feed the local market with milk; we want to conserve foreign currency and train our people,” he remarked.
“The Israelis are keen in training our people in local expertise, so we intend to train people here and send some of them to Israel for training, and I think it’s a win-win situation for the country.”
