Milk Day: FG targets 37,000 women and youth in its livestock empowerment program

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to create economic opportunities for 37,000 Nigerian women and youth through a proposed Livestock Women and Youth Empowerment Initiative, aimed at promoting participation across the livestock value chain, particularly in the dairy sector.

The Minister for Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, stated this on Saturday in Abuja during activities marking the 2026 World Milk Day celebration.

Represented by his Senior Special Assistant, Prof. Eustace Iyayi, the Minister said the initiative was part of Government’s broader strategy to transform Nigeria’s livestock industry, while promoting inclusive growth and economic empowerment.

He said the program is designed to support women and youth engaged in dairy production, processing, marketing and industry through targeted interventions that will improve productivity and income generation.

Maiha added that the initiative, currently in the stakeholder consultation and program design phase, would provide beneficiaries with skills acquisition, business support, access to finance, technology transfer, strengthening cooperation and market integration opportunities.

She said: “As we celebrate women dairy farmers this year, we recognize their critical role in strengthening household nutrition, supporting rural livelihoods and promoting agricultural growth. Our goal is to build an inclusive dairy industry that empowers women and youth, while contributing to national food security and economic development.”

The minister noted that the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Agenda has laid the foundation for coordinated reforms aimed at unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s livestock and dairy industries.

He further said that the ministry validated the National Dairy Policy Implementation Framework following a stakeholder engagement held in November 2025, adding that the framework will be officially unveiled on June 1, 2026.

Maiha said the framework provides a roadmap to achieve measurable results in the dairy sector, as efforts under the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) are scaled up to increase local milk production and promote industrialization of the dairy sector.