The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, recently created, has held a two-day retreat to develop and refine its five-year strategic plan.
According to a statement on Saturday issued by Ben. Bem Goong, Director, Information and Public Relations, in the Ministry, the retreat brought together key stakeholders and experts to deliberate on strategies for modernising and transforming Nigeria’s livestock sector.
In his own remarks, Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, stressed the importance of strategic vision, stating that structured planning and collective commitment are essential to the sector’s growth.
“An African adage says, ‘If you don’t know where you are going, any road can lead you there.’
“We cannot afford to follow ‘any road.’ Our sector is new, the challenges are immense, but the opportunities are even greater.
“We must carve out a strategic vision and define clear objectives to modernise livestock development.
The Minister urged participants to approach the task with a vision, creativity, and resilience.
“We must confront challenges head-on, adapt our strategies to changing realities, and remain focused on our goals.
“We cannot say we will transform the entire industry overnight, but with a big picture in mind, we must take concrete steps forward,” Maiha said.
The Minister also emphasized the role of data and measurement performance where he stated, “There cannot be too many truths when it comes to statistics.
“What we are doing must be structured, organised, and measurable. We need milestones and performance indicators to track our progress and recalibrate when necessary.”
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi affirmed the need for a pragmatic and phased approach in crafting the ministry’s five-year strategic plan.
According to her, the ministry should aim at focusing on identifying immediate priorities while laying the foundation for long-term success.
“We must strike a balance between ambition and deliverables,” she noted, highlighting the importance of collaboration and alignment with national development goals, particularly as the ministry prepares for the African Development Bank’s visit to scope potential projects.
“It is important that we define clear milestones, performance indicators, and resource requirements to avoid being overwhelmed by the scope of our work,” she said.
Muna Onuzo-Adetona, a representative from the Federal Ministry of Finance, equally expressed commitment to partnering with the Ministry of Livestock Development to professionalise the livestock value chain and catalyse investments in the sector.
“Livestock offers immense potential to enhance food security, generate wealth, and mitigate climate change effects.
“At this planning stage, it is important to prepare investment-ready projects, and well-structured initiatives that would attract both local and international investors,” she submitted.