Nestlé Nigeria Partners with Livestock Ministry for Dairy Skill Centre

Nestlé Nigeria Plc has formalized a partnership with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to establish a Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre in Paikon Kore, Gwagwalada, Abuja. The collaboration, cemented through a Memorandum of Understanding, aims to boost capacity and productivity in Nigeria’s dairy sector. The centre will be located at the Nestlé Dairy Demonstration Farm, enhancing ongoing livestock development initiatives.

The project is designed to improve milk quality and strengthen value chain coordination across the dairy industry. At the signing ceremony, Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, stated that the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to developing the local dairy ecosystem. He highlighted the success of the company’s Livestock Development Project, launched in 2019, which has established 83 dairy cooperatives and trained over 2,000 pastoralists. The project has also aggregated over one million litres of raw milk and vaccinated more than 36,000 cattle.

Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhtar Idi Maiha, emphasized that the partnership is a practical step toward unlocking Nigeria’s dairy sector potential. He commended Nestlé for its sustained investment, noting that the initiative aligns with the National Dairy Policy under the National Development Plan. The government aims to create an enabling environment to support private sector investment in the livestock industry.

The Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre will offer structured training in milk production, processing, hygiene, and farm management. Implementation will begin with the finalization of training frameworks, site preparation, and phased program rollouts in collaboration with stakeholders. The centre is expected to serve as a hub for capacity building, focusing on developing mid-level technical skills essential for the dairy industry’s sustainability and competitiveness.