Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Federal Ministry Partner to Establish Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre
By The People’s Voice Nigeria News
Nestlé Nigeria Plc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to establish a Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre in Paikon Kore, Gwagwalada, aimed at strengthening technical capacity and improving productivity in Nigeria’s dairy sector.
The centre, to be situated at the Nestlé Dairy Demonstration Farm, builds on the company’s ongoing Livestock Development Project and reflects a strategic shift from pilot initiatives to full-scale implementation across the dairy value chain.
The collaboration will deliver structured training programmes and targeted interventions focused on improving on-farm practices, enhancing milk quality, and strengthening value chain coordination among dairy stakeholders.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, Wassim Elhusseini, said the initiative would expand the company’s long-standing efforts to build technical capacity within the sector.
“At Nestlé, we have been working over the years to strengthen the dairy value chain in Nigeria. What we have seen is clear when capability improves, outcomes follow,” he said.
He added that the partnership would help scale structured training programmes designed to improve productivity, quality, and long-term sustainability while creating shared value for communities.
Since 2019, the Nestlé Livestock Development Project has supported dairy communities across Nigeria, establishing 83 dairy cooperatives and benefiting over 3,000 milk producers. The initiative has also facilitated the aggregation of more than one million litres of raw milk, trained over 2,000 pastoralists, and supported vaccination of more than 36,000 cattle.
Also speaking, the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhtar Idi Maiha, described the partnership as a practical step toward unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s dairy sector.
“Nigeria’s dairy sector holds significant potential, but unlocking it requires stronger technical capability across the value chain,” he said, commending Nestlé’s commitment to sustainable development.
The minister noted that the initiative aligns with the National Dairy Policy under the National Development Plan, which seeks to drive growth in the livestock sector, enhance food security, and create economic opportunities.
Following the signing of the MoU, both parties are expected to move into implementation, including finalising training frameworks, preparing the demonstration farm site, and commencing phased rollout of the programme.
The Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre is expected to provide a structured platform for capacity building, focusing on developing mid-level technical skills essential for the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of Nigeria’s dairy industry.
