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The Federal Government has unveiled plans to create economic opportunities for 37,000 women and youth across the Nigerian dairy value chain, spanning production, processing and marketing.
The Minister for Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, disclosed this in Abuja during a march organized to mark the celebration of World Milk Day 2026.
Represented by his Special Assistant, Prof. Eustace Iyayi, the Minister said the initiative was part of broader efforts to empower women dairy farmers and strengthen the sector through targeted interventions.
He explained that the programme, currently under consultation, will focus on skills development, business integration, strengthening cooperatives, access to finance, technology transfer and sustainable animal production.
Maiha added that the ministry is considering establishing women-led milk aggregation and processing cooperatives to increase local value addition and improve market access.
She said other measures under consideration include improving milk storage systems, mobile veterinary services and personalized support tailored to women, who play a central role in dairy production and household livelihoods.
According to him, women remain crucial to the production, storage, processing and marketing of milk, stressing that a significant transformation of the dairy sector cannot happen without their inclusion.
Describing women and youth as a key pillar of the ministry’s strategy, he said the government is committed to implementing gender-responsive policies that increase productivity and expand opportunities in the sector.
Maiha noted that Nigeria’s dairy industry still faces a significant supply gap, with annual demand estimated at 1.7 million tonnes compared to local production of between 600,000 and 700,000 tonnes.
According to him, the deficit has led to a heavy dependence on imports, which cost the country about $1.5 billion a year.
The minister also highlighted global trends, citing data from the International Dairy Federation showing that global milk production exceeds 780 million tonnes, with demand rising in developing economies.
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In her remarks, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chinyere Akujobi, highlighted the importance of collaboration between government, private sector and development partners to unlock the sector’s potential and reduce import dependency.
He said such partnerships are vital to enhance local production, improve nutrition and promote economic growth through a more sustainable and inclusive dairy industry.
