Nestlé, Federal Ministry Launch Dairy Technical Skills Program to Boost Nigeria's Milk Production

L-R: Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead, Nestlé Nigeria, Wassim Elhusseini MD/CEO, Nestlé Nigeria, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and Victor Egbon, Director, Ruminants and Monogastric Development, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development at the signing ceremony of the Letter of Intent between both organization's to establish the Nestlé Dairy Training Center, in Abuja, today. 

LAGOS, Nigeria – June 3, 2025 – In a significant move to bolster Nigeria's dairy sector, Nestlé Nigeria PLC and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development today announced the launch of a comprehensive Dairy Technical Skills Development Program. The initiative was formalized through the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) in commemoration of World Milk Day 2025, underscoring a shared vision to enhance the quality and volume of milk production across the nation.

The LOI signifies a mutual commitment to developing critical mid-level technical and vocational skills essential for strengthening Nigeria’s dairy value chain. This partnership aims to contribute directly to food security, improve nutrition, and foster sustainable livelihoods within dairy farming communities. Key focus areas of the collaboration include:

Establishing capacity-building programs centered on milk production, processing, hygiene, and farm management.

Promoting industry-relevant skills through training modules developed in collaboration with key stakeholders.

Enhancing milk quality and productivity across local dairy clusters through knowledge sharing and technical support.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, highlighted Nestlé's extensive global dairy experience and its localized capacity to deliver targeted training. "This 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," Elhusseini stated. "We are confident that this will have a positive impact on our communities by creating more jobs, improving livelihoods, and supporting a stronger economy."

The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, emphasized the Ministry's ongoing efforts to address challenges in the dairy value chain under the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy. "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," the Minister revealed.

Nestlé Nigeria has been actively contributing to the dairy sector's enhancement since the launch of its Dairy Development Project (NLDP) in 2019. Through the NLDP, Nestlé has established 83 dairy cooperatives, benefiting over 3,000 milk producers and successfully aggregating more than 1 million liters of raw milk. The company has also trained over 2,000 milk producers in best practices, vaccinated over 36,744 cattle, and facilitated water access by constructing 19 boreholes and 28 water troughs.

These sustained efforts have yielded significant improvements in milk quality, evidenced by a reduction in rejection rates from 12% in 2021 to a remarkable 5% in 2024. Furthermore, the monthly revenue for milk producers has substantially increased from ₦70,000 in 2019 to ₦250,000 in 2024, directly impacting livelihoods.

The new Dairy Technical Skills Development Program builds on the success of Nestlé's Dairy Demonstration Farm, which showcased how best practices can safely increase milk production of local breeds from an average of 1 liter to over 10 liters per cow per day. Following the farm's success, the Honorable Minister invited Nestlé Nigeria to convert it into a training institute, an opportunity that Nestlé readily accepted, leading to today's LOI signing.

By investing in the future of Nigeria's dairy sector, Nestlé is dedicated to building robust capacity and capability for a sustainable and prosperous industry that supports the nation’s overall development.

About Nestlé Nigeria:

Nestlé Nigeria is Africa's top food and beverage company, known for its quality, excellence, and commitment to creating shared value. With a heritage of more than 63 years in Nigeria and its household brands, the firm continues to ensure the availability and accessibility of nutritious food and beverage products. In addition, the firm supports the communities closest to its operations and takes action to safeguard the environment through sustainable business practices.