Nigeria's Strategic Plan to Empower 37,000 Women in Dairy Sector

The Federal Government of Nigeria is advancing strategic interventions to create economic opportunities for 37,000 women and youths in the dairy value chain. This initiative covers production, processing, and marketing activities, as disclosed by the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, during a road walk in Abuja, part of the 2026 World Milk Day celebration.

The program, which is under consultation, focuses on skills development, enterprise integration, cooperative strengthening, and access to finance and technology transfer. The ministry is exploring the establishment of women-led milk aggregation and processing cooperatives to enhance local value addition and improve access to processors.

Minister Maiha emphasized the critical role of women in milk production, preservation, storage, processing, and marketing across Nigeria. The ministry recognizes that the inclusion and empowerment of women are essential for any meaningful transformation of the dairy sector.

World Milk Day, celebrated globally under the coordination of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, highlights the contributions of milk and dairy products to nutrition, food security, and economic development. The global dairy sector is undergoing significant transformation, with global milk production exceeding 780 million metric tonnes annually.

In Nigeria, the national annual milk demand is approximately 1.7 million metric tonnes, while local production ranges between 600,000 to 700,000 metric tonnes, resulting in a significant import dependence. The country spends an estimated 1.5 billion dollars annually on dairy imports.

Dr. Chinyere Akujobi, the permanent secretary of the ministry, stressed the importance of collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, and development partners in advancing sustainable livestock development and strengthening Nigeria's dairy industry.