Nestlé Nigeria has entered into a strategic partnership with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to strengthen the country’s dairy sector through the launch of a Dairy Technical Skills Development Programme.
The initiative, formalized with the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) on Monday in Abuja, aims to enhance both the quality and volume of milk production in Nigeria.
The LOI represents a shared commitment to developing mid-level technical and vocational skills critical to reinforcing the dairy value chain, ensuring food security, improving nutrition, and supporting sustainable livelihoods across the country.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Wassim Elhusseini, expressed confidence in the programme’s potential to transform communities by creating jobs, improving income, and contributing to a stronger national economy.
Elhusseini explained that the partnership will focus on capacity-building programmes, development of industry-relevant skills in collaboration with stakeholders, and improving milk quality within local dairy clusters.
He highlighted Nestlé’s ongoing contributions to the sector through its Nigeria Livestock Development Project (NLDP), launched in 2019. Since inception, the project has established 83 dairy cooperatives, benefited over 3,000 milk producers, and aggregated more than one million litres of raw milk.
According to him, Nestlé has trained over 2,000 milk producers on best practices, vaccinated more than 36,000 cattle, and provided critical infrastructure including 19 boreholes and 28 water troughs to ensure consistent access to clean water.
These interventions, he said, have significantly improved milk quality, with rejection rates dropping from 12 percent in 2021 to 5 percent in 2024.
However, average monthly income for milk producers has increased from ₦70,000 in 2019 to ₦250,000 in 2024.
Elhusseini also announced the launch of the Nestlé Dairy Demonstration Farm, which will serve as a practical learning hub to showcase how proper techniques and care can boost milk yields among local breeds from an average of one litre per cow per day to over ten litres.
He noted that following the launch of the demonstration farm, the Minister of Livestock Development had invited Nestlé to transform the facility into a training institute an opportunity the company promptly embraced, culminating in the signing of the LOI.
He affirmed Nestlé’s long-term commitment to building a resilient and inclusive dairy industry that supports national development goals. “By investing in the future of Nigeria’s dairy sector, Nestlé is dedicated to building capacity and capability for a sustainable and prosperous industry that supports the nation’s development,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, emphasized that the partnership will lead to the establishment of a Dairy Training Centre in Paikon Kore, Gwagwalada. The centre, he said, will focus on building mid-level manpower and equipping farmers with modern techniques to boost productivity and efficiency.
Maiha reiterated the ministry’s recognition of Nestlé’s impactful contributions since 2019, pointing out that the NLDP has laid a solid foundation for sustainable dairy growth in Nigeria.
He expressed optimism that the new training centre would deepen the ongoing efforts to modernize the sector, empower rural communities, and drive inclusive economic development.
