The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has opened discussions with the Leventis Foundation Nigeria on a potential partnership aimed at expanding youth training in agribusiness and boosting livestock productivity across the country.
The proposed collaboration was explored on Wednesday in Abuja when the leadership of the Foundation paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha.
Speaking during the meeting, the Minister commended the Foundation for its longstanding contribution to agricultural training and human capacity development in Nigeria. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building a vibrant livestock sector by empowering young people with the skills needed to participate across the value chain.
Maiha noted that the livestock industry presents wide-ranging opportunities spanning feed and fodder production, animal husbandry, processing, marketing, storage and transportation. He said strategic partnerships would play a critical role in unlocking these opportunities and creating sustainable livelihoods for young Nigerians.
He emphasised that youth empowerment programmes must go beyond basic training to include practical knowledge in animal management, marketing systems, veterinary services and value addition in order to ensure long-term success and prevent losses.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of expanding agricultural opportunities for young people in vulnerable regions, particularly the North-East, where productive engagement in agriculture could help support economic recovery and social stability.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the Leventis Foundation Nigeria, Dr. Hope Usieta, outlined the Foundation’s over three decades of experience in youth agribusiness training through six agricultural training centres located across the country.
Usieta explained that each centre admits about 150 trainees annually for a 10 to 11-month intensive programme that combines practical and theoretical instruction in livestock production, crop cultivation, agroforestry, enterprise development and value addition.
According to him, the initiative has produced thousands of graduates who are currently engaged in various agribusiness ventures and are supported through microcredit schemes and a national alumni network.
He added that the Foundation operates a cost-sharing model with partner state governments for the establishment and operation of its training schools, a system that has helped sustain the programme over the years.
Usieta noted that the visit was aimed at formally introducing the Foundation’s work to the Ministry and identifying areas of collaboration that could support the Ministry’s priorities in ruminant production, fodder development and overall livestock value chain growth.
Both parties agreed to explore opportunities for deeper collaboration to strengthen youth participation in livestock production, expand fodder development initiatives and enhance productivity across Nigeria’s livestock sector.
