FG, Nestlé launch dairy technical skills development programme to close 1.7m MT milk demand

In a major step toward revitalizing Nigeria’s dairy sector, Nestlé Nigeria PLC and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development have formalized a partnership to launch a Dairy Technical Skills Development Program, aimed at building mid-level technical manpower and enhancing milk productivity and quality across Nigeria.

The agreement was sealed through a Letter of Intent (LOI) signed during the commemoration of World Milk Day 2025 in Abuja. The partnership underlines a shared commitment to improving milk production, hygiene standards, processing skills, and value chain management through structured training and capacity-building programs.

The initiative aligns with the goals of the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, focusing on livestock value chain enhancement and modernized feed systems. A major milestone of the partnership will be the establishment of a Dairy Training Centre in Paikon Kore, Gwagwalada, to upskill farmers and build sector resilience through the adoption of modern dairy practices.

Nestlé’s Managing Director and CEO, Wassim Elhusseini, emphasized the importance of bridging the technical skills gap within Nigeria’s dairy value chain to meet the evolving market demands, improve community livelihoods, and bolster national food security.

Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, noted that the collaboration complements government-led reforms, adding that Nestlé’s growing investments and training infrastructure will catalyze development in the sector.

Nestlé’s track record in the dairy space includes its Dairy Development Project (NLDP) launched in 2019. Key outcomes include:

• Creation of 83 dairy cooperatives reaching over 3,000 milk producers.
• Aggregation of over 1 million liters of milk.
• Training of over 2,000 farmers in best practices.
• Vaccination of over 36,000 cattle.
• Deployment of 19 boreholes and 28 water troughs.
• Improved milk quality, cutting rejection rates from 12% (2021) to 5% (2024).
• Increased monthly income per milk producer from ₦70,000 to ₦250,000.

The launch of the Nestlé Dairy Demonstration Farm, now set to evolve into a full-fledged training institute, showcases how practical farm models can dramatically improve milk yields—from 1 liter to over 10 liters per cow daily—when local breeds are managed using improved techniques.
Source- Tribune

Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
The Nestlé–Livestock Ministry collaboration marks a bold and highly strategic intervention in Nigeria’s underperforming dairy sector. Below are key takeaways and implications for public and private sector stakeholders:

1. From Productivity Gaps to Profitability Opportunities
   Nigeria’s dairy sector is plagued by low productivity—averaging 1–2 liters per cow per day. The Nestlé Demonstration Farm proves that structured training and basic interventions (like feed quality, health, and hygiene) can raise output by over 10x.
   → Stakeholder Insight: Development partners, state governments, and processors must prioritize demonstration-based learning models and scale-up across dairy clusters.
2. Bridging the Skills Gap is No Longer Optional
   Mid-level technical skills (e.g., milk handling, artificial insemination, feed formulation, hygiene compliance) are absent in Nigeria’s current livestock development architecture.
   → Stakeholder Insight: Agribusinesses and training institutes should align with this new training center model to provide certified dairy technicians for expanding local and industrial dairies.
3. Private Sector-Driven Extension Services are the Future
   With Nestlé spearheading skill development alongside milk sourcing, this reflects a shift toward private-led extension services where businesses are also educators.
   → Stakeholder Insight: Input suppliers, feed companies, and processors must explore similar models—bundling training with product sales to ensure adoption and quality control.
4. Dairy Cooperatives as Economic Engines
   Nestlé’s success in growing 83 cooperatives underlines the power of structured aggregation. These cooperatives are not just milk suppliers—they are engines of rural wealth and social capital.
   → Stakeholder Insight: NGOs, financial institutions, and processors should deepen cooperative development with embedded financial literacy, aggregation support, and performance-based incentives.
5. Investment in Water Access is Yielding Real Returns
   Access to clean water directly impacts cattle health, milk hygiene, and productivity. Nestlé’s investment in boreholes and troughs contributed to significant rejection-rate reduction.
   → Stakeholder Insight: Local governments and investors in dairy zones must treat water infrastructure as foundational to agribusiness—not just a rural development add-on.
6.  A Scalable Model for Livestock-Based Rural Employment
   The combination of vaccination, cooperative management, processing skills, and dairy extension presents a rural employment multiplier effect. Each trained farmer creates additional service needs—from vet care to milk logistics.
   → Stakeholder Insight: Youth empowerment programs and job creation initiatives should see dairy as a viable employment generator, especially when backed by structured private-sector-led training.

Conclusion
The Nestlé–Federal Ministry of Livestock Development initiative is a sector-defining model for inclusive agribusiness development. Its multi-layered impact—technical upskilling, cooperative formation, water access, and productivity uplift—provides a proof-of-concept for future public-private partnerships in agrifood transformation.

Scaling this initiative nationwide, especially in pastoral and semi-arid zones, could significantly reduce Nigeria’s dairy import dependency, boost rural economies, and advance the country’s food sovereignty agenda.