The Federal Government, in collaboration with Nestlé Nigeria, has launched a new initiative to equip Nigerian farmers with technical skills to increase milk production and enhance their livelihoods.

The partnership was announced on Monday during the signing of a memorandum between Nestlé Nigeria and the Ministry of Livestock Development, marking World Milk Day 2025. The program aims to address key challenges in the dairy value chain by developing mid-level vocational skills in dairy farming.

The programme will also offer practical training in milk production, processing, hygiene, and farm management, aiming to enhance both the quality and quantity of milk produced in Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, the Livestock minister, Mukhtar Maiha, said, “Since the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, we have taken significant steps to address the challenges facing the dairy value chain. Under the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, we are focusing on key pillars, including livestock value chain development and feed and fodder improvement.

“Our collaboration with Nestlé Nigeria will lead to the commissioning of a Dairy Training Centre in Paikon Kore, Gwagwalada, aimed at building mid-level manpower and training farmers to enhance productivity through modern practices.”

In his remark, the Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria Wassim Elhusseini highlighted the critical significance of the partnership.

“In addition to our global dairy experience, Nestlé has built capacity to provide targeted training programs on best practices in dairy farming adapted to the Nigerian context.

“This is why the Letter of Intent signifies more than a formal agreement; it reflects our mutual dedication to bridge the gap in mid-level technical skills within the dairy sector to meet the growing demands of the market. We are confident that this will have a positive impact on our communities by creating more jobs, improving livelihoods, and supporting a stronger economy,” he said.

Elhusseini pointed out that Nestlé Nigeria’s dairy development efforts started in 2019 with the launch of its Dairy Development Project. To date, the company has established 83 dairy cooperatives, benefiting more than 3,000 milk producers directly.

He further stated that over 1 million liters of raw milk have been collected, with more than 2,000 producers trained in best practices. Nestlé has also vaccinated nearly 37,000 cattle and constructed key infrastructure, including 19 boreholes and 28 water troughs, to improve water access.

These efforts have had a significant impact. Milk rejection rates fell from 12% in 2021 to 5% in 2024, while the average monthly income of milk producers increased from ₦70,000 in 2019 to ₦250,000 in 2024.

Recently, Nestlé launched its Dairy Demonstration Farm, a model farm that demonstrates how improved practices can boost milk production from 1 liter to over 10 liters per cow per day.