Adewale Ilesanmi

DevOps & Cloud Computing Lead @ Dominion Systems Inc. | I help multiple Clients in automating tasks & leveraging multi-cloud services, using modern technologies

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

#agribusinesssaturday

[Federal Ministry of Livestock Development @Ngfmld]

World MILK Day 2026: FG to Feminise Livestock Value Chains, Empower 37,000 Women and Youth - Mukhtar

The Federal Government has announced plans to deliberately expand the participation of women across livestock value chains as part of efforts to transform Nigeria's dairy industry and accelerate economic opportunities for women and youth.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this while delivering his keynote address at the 2026 World Milk Day Conference held in Abuja, where stakeholders gathered to celebrate this year's theme, "Celebrating Women's Dairy Farmers: Promoting Fresh Milk Consumption for a Healthy Nation."

"There is going to be a deliberate effort by the Ministry. From dairy to poultry, piggery, rabbitry, beekeeping, beef production and fodder development, there should be a deliberate attempt to feminise all these value chains," the Minister stated.

He noted that women remain central to milk production, processing, storage and marketing, stressing that the future of Nigeria's dairy industry depends on empowering them with modern technologies, skills and access to markets.

"No meaningful transformation of the dairy sector can occur without the inclusion and empowerment of women. We are committed to creating greater opportunities for women and youth through dairy cooperatives, skills development, milk aggregation systems, value addition and enterprise support initiatives.

"Improving the productivity of women dairy farmers requires more than policy statements. It requires deliberate investment in infrastructure, training, financing, technology, market access and inclusion within decision-making structures across the dairy value chain," he added.
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Mukhtar further reiterated that the Ministry is advancing plans for a Women and Youth in Livestock Empowerment Initiative, designed to create economic opportunities for over 37,000 women and youth through skills development, enterprise incubation, cooperative strengthening, access to finance, technology transfer and market integration.

He also unveiled the National Dairy Policy Implementation Framework as a roadmap for accelerating local milk production and attracting investment into the sector; and disclosed plans to establish women-led milk aggregation and processing cooperatives to strengthen local value addition and improve access to processors and off-takers.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, represented by the Director of Ruminant and Monogastrics Development, Mr. Victor Egbon, noted that beyond its nutritional value, milk remains a critical driver of economic opportunity and sustainable livelihoods for millions of people around the world.
"For Nigeria, this conversation is particularly important because the dairy sector represents not only a nutrition imperative but also a strategic economic opportunity capable of generating employment, improving household incomes and strengthening food security," she stated.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Idris Ajimobi, commended the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development for its efforts in advancing Nigeria’s livestock and dairy sector, describing ongoing initiatives as vital to national growth and food security.

He emphasised that efforts to transform the livestock sector must prioritise increased local milk production and encourage greater consumption of fresh, locally produced dairy products.

In his goodwill message, National President of the Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN), M.D. Abubakar, emphasised the need to ensure that backward integration policies translate into measurable import substitution outcomes, warning that any programme that fails to achieve this objective amounts to “efforts without results.”

He further called for sustained collaboration to build a stronger, healthier, and more prosperous Nigeria through an optimally productive and competitive dairy value chain, wishing stakeholders continued progress and success in the sector.

Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of Promasidor Nigeria, Mr. François Gillet, reaffirmed the company's commitment to advancing Nigeria's dairy sector through sustainable local production and investment.

He disclosed that Promasidor operates one of the country's largest dairy farms, spanning over 500 hectares with more than 750 cattle producing fresh milk daily, while indirectly supporting about 1,000 jobs.

Gillet commended the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and industry stakeholders for their efforts in transforming the sector and called for continued support for dairy farmers, particularly women, while promoting fresh milk consumption to improve national nutrition outcomes.

Also speaking, the Country Representative and Political Director of Propcom+, Dr. Adiya Ode, congratulated stakeholders and women dairy farmers on the occasion of World Milk Day, noting that milk is increasingly becoming central to national conversations around nutrition and food security.

She urged stakeholders to pay greater attention to critical issues such as infrastructure development, feed availability and genetic improvement to unlock the full potential of Nigeria's dairy industry.

Similarly, the Director-General of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), represented at the event by the Communications and Engagement Officer, Ibrahim Faskari Kabir, described this year's theme as particularly significant because it recognises the indispensable contributions of women who form the backbone of dairy production, processing, marketing and household nutrition across rural communities.

He also highlighted the organisation's support for the development of the Dairy Policy Implementation Framework, describing it as a strategic roadmap for increasing local milk production, improving competitiveness, attracting investment and fostering sustainable growth.

The event recorded strong stakeholder participation, with representatives drawn from the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Food Security; Industry, Trade and Investment; the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI); the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency; Sahel Consulting; Nestlé Nigeria; USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) Lagos; the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, and exhibitors among others.

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@BwalaDaniel @PeterObi Daniel is a fool for life

[Federal Ministry of Livestock Development @Ngfmld]

#WorldMilkDay2026 #WomenInDairyNG #MilkForHealthyNation #FreshMilkNaija #NourishingNigeriaTogether

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@ecobank_nigeria Why is the restriction on limit of transfer that I can make, please? Kindly answer this

[Federal Ministry of Livestock Development @Ngfmld]

FMLD Convenes Strategic Engagement to Strengthen Veterinary Services Nationwide

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has convened a strategic engagement with Directors of Veterinary Services from across the sub-national level, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to repositioning veterinary services as a cornerstone of national food security, public health, and economic development.

Speaking at the engagement held on Tuesday, 28th April 2026 in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, described the ongoing transformation in the livestock sector as a “national revolution,” positioning veterinary professionals as central drivers of change.

“This country is undertaking a massive revolution in the livestock sector, and you are the champions of that transformation. This gathering reflects a deliberate shift in our approach as a ministry from the broad policy articulation to targeting systems where it matters most. Veterinary services occupy a central position in national development," he stated.

The Minister explained that while Nigeria has developed comprehensive national frameworks for the control of zoonotic and non-zoonotic diseases, the major constraint remains weak and inconsistent implementation at the state and local government levels.

“The true test of effectiveness lies not at the centre, but at the grassroots - among farmers, pastoralists, livestock markets, and abattoirs, where veterinary services must deliver real results,” he said.

Highlighting the Ministry’s strategic direction, Maiha outlined key priorities including strengthening disease surveillance systems for early detection and rapid response, expanding laboratory and diagnostic capacity, modernising veterinary infrastructure, and enhancing governance frameworks.

He also stressed the need for a well-trained and adequately distributed workforce, noting that “government alone cannot meet the growing demand for animal health services,” and called for stronger private sector participation.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, underscored the evolving global recognition of veterinary services as essential social services.

“The World Organisation for Animal Health has made it clear that animal health services are now seen as social services, and we must take advantage of that positioning. The profession cannot remain static in a rapidly changing world.

"We must integrate new approaches, strengthen collaboration, and ensure that every cadre within the veterinary ecosystem contributes effectively to national development,” he added, while commending ongoing reform initiatives and calling for stronger alignment among stakeholders.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, highlighted persistent systemic challenges undermining service delivery at the sub-national level. “Several systemic issues continue to limit effectiveness, including gaps in manpower distribution, weak surveillance systems, and underperforming veterinary laboratories due to inadequate infrastructure and resources,” she stated.

Dr. Akujobi stressed that addressing these challenges requires a coordinated and disciplined administrative approach. “We must adopt a structured and collaborative framework that ensures efficient resource utilisation, improved inter-institutional coordination, and sustained service delivery, particularly in rural areas where veterinary services are most needed,” she said.

Delivering a goodwill message, the FAO Country Representative, Dr. Hussein Gadain, reaffirmed the central role of veterinary services in safeguarding livestock productivity and public health. “Veterinary services are the first line of defence in protecting animal populations, reducing production losses, and preventing disease spillover that threatens human health,” he said, reaffirming FAO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in advancing veterinary sector reforms.

Other dignitaries in attendance included the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office, Dr. Aisha Gogo Ndayako; Permanent Secretary, Service Policies and Strategies Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Mohammed Musa Ishiyaku; Director-General of the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, Dr. Vincent Isegbe.

Also in attendance were the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu; Acting Director/Chief Executive of the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom, Dr. Nick Nwankpa; Directors of Veterinary Services from across the states, senior government officials, development partners, academics, veterinary professionals and leading experts in veterinary medicine.

[Federal Ministry of Livestock Development @Ngfmld]

FG Drives National Action on Animal Genetics Reform

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to transform Nigeria’s livestock sector through a coordinated national approach to animal genetics, as the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, called on experts to develop practical, science-driven solutions to longstanding challenges in Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) management.

Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Consultative Workshop organised by the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), a World Bank-assisted programme, in Abuja on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the Minister underscored the urgent need to harmonise protocols for the characterisation, inventory, and monitoring of trends and associated risks in animal genetic resources.

He stressed that Nigeria’s livestock sector is vital to food security, rural livelihoods, and economic resilience, describing a harmonised animal breeding policy as a national necessity.

Mukhtar noted that effective reform must be anchored on reliable baseline data on indigenous livestock breeds, including their distribution, genetic composition, and adaptive traits, warning that without this foundation, breeding objectives and conservation strategies cannot be properly defined or implemented.

“Without accurate baseline data, it is impossible to design appropriate breeding objectives or determine which breeds are best suited for specific agro-ecological zones,” he said. The Minister further highlighted the importance of continuous monitoring systems to detect early signs of genetic erosion, mitigate extinction risks, and support timely interventions such as conservation programmes and improved breeding strategies.

Declaring the workshop open, Mukhtar aligned Nigeria’s efforts with the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources and the Interlaken Declaration, charging participants to develop harmonised, implementable protocols that will strengthen data systems, enhance biodiversity conservation, and support evidence-based policymaking.

In his remarks, the Director of Ruminants and Monogastric Development in the Ministry and National Coordinator on Animal Genetics (AnGR), Victor Egbon, urged participants to prioritise simplicity, inclusiveness, and practicality in developing protocols that can be effectively implemented across all states. He assured stakeholders of government's readiness to institutionalise and scale the outcomes of the workshop nationwide.

Earlier, the National Coordinator of L-PRES, Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, described the workshop as a milestone in the implementation of the National Strategy on Animal Genetic Resources, launched in June 2025, and aligns with the Global Plan of Action adopted by the FAO.

He explained that while characterisation provides the scientific basis for identifying and understanding livestock breeds, inventory and monitoring systems ensure data-driven decision-making and timely interventions which is fundamental to safeguarding livestock biodiversity and ensuring sustainable sector development.

Dr. Abubakar noted that the exercise is designed to produce harmonised, practical protocols that will guide national data collection, breed identification, and risk monitoring systems. He added that the outcomes will strengthen national databases, improve policy decisions, and support conservation, productivity, and resilience within Nigeria’s livestock sector.

Delivering a goodwill message, the Country Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization, Dr. Hussein Gadain, reaffirmed continued technical support for Nigeria’s livestock transformation.

He noted that veterinary and genetic services remain the first line of defense in protecting animal health, ensuring food safety, and maintaining market stability, while calling for stronger governance, improved surveillance systems, and enhanced laboratory capacity.

Also speaking, a representative of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Professor Abba Gambo, commended the Minister’s proactive engagement with subnational governments and pledged the Forum’s support in expanding participation in L-PRES across all remaining 16 states.

In the same vein, the Emir of Nasarawa, His Royal Highness Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibril, called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to ensure effective outcomes, while State Project Coordinators under L-PRES, represented by the Gombe state Coordinator, Prof. Usman Bello Abubakar, reaffirmed their commitment to producing practical, forward-looking protocols that will guide conservation and sustainable use of animal genetic resources nationwide.

The workshop brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including academia, research institutions, financial experts, development partners, and government agencies, to recommit to building a resilient, data-driven, and globally competitive livestock sector.

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@channelstv So why is that your headache??? Campaign for your candidate and stop being petty. Peter Obi 2027. OK 2027

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@abdullahayofel It is only in Nigeria that incumbents behave like opposition. A case of APC from 2015 till date.

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@BwalaDaniel @Hannyrons @BwalaDaniel , you are so shameless and there is no low, you are not ready to go. Shameless spokesman.

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@BwalaDaniel By every measure, @_dinomelaye is very better than you in Nigeria and everywhere else.

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@ShehuSani Keep your advice!!!

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@Omojuwa I wonder how ADC matter concerns you now. It is called amebo.

[Federal Ministry of Livestock Development @Ngfmld]

Join key stakeholders from across the continent to engage, share insights, and shape the future of animal agriculture in Africa, at the 9th All Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture, holding from 9th–13th August, 2026.

We look forward to your participation.🤗

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@Omojuwa In your dream????

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@aonanuga1956 With the situation in the country, this is what is of great concern to you. There is no low that you can't go at your age. So shameful!!!!

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@akerele_s @PeterObi Thank you. Peter Obi 2027

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@Imranmuhdz Amaechi should know that party membership registration is different from voter registration. Voters are not politicians.

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@MasterBolaji That's your mindset. Presidents across the world enters train and buses and ride bicycles and carry back bags. They are not slave masters. God save your soul.

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@aonanuga1956 Shame on you! Everybody knows that Nafiu Bala Gombe is your sponsored mould in the ADC. You can't even hide it.

[Adewale Ilesanmi @aailesanmi]

@BwalaDaniel In the last 48 hours, all of the spokesmen of the President Tinubu have been on Peter Obi's case and not on the real jobs of governance. In 2027, Nigerians won't ask the president about Peter Obi but how their lives have faired. Use your heads.