The Choose Milk Campaign, a strategic consumer education initiative, has been launched to help Nigerian households make informed dairy choices by strengthening awareness of milk's nutritional benefits. Led by the Danish Dairy Board in partnership with Arla Foods Nigeria and co-funded by the European Union, the campaign aims to address widespread misconceptions about dairy consumption and clearly distinguish dairy milk from creamers commonly found in the Nigerian market.
Market Survey Reveals Widespread Confusion
A market survey conducted among over 2,000 Nigerians across major cities including Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Onitsha, and Port Harcourt revealed that many citizens do not know the difference between milk and creamers. The survey found that 43 percent of respondents believed creamers are the same as milk, while 28 percent were unsure. Additionally, 45 percent admitted ignorance of the difference between real milk and creamers, and 55 percent could not differentiate between dairy creamers and non-dairy creamers.
Nutritional Benefits of Real Milk
Milk is a superfood containing essential nutrients for healthy body development, growth, and functionality. Research shows that children fed with real milk are generally healthier and tend to perform better academically. Real milk, naturally sourced from cows, is high in protein, calcium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and other essential vitamins. In contrast, dairy creamers are intended as beverage additives, not milk substitutes, and are made from a mix of dairy products such as milk, cream, or butter, often combined with sugar, stabilizers, and emulsifiers. They provide much less natural protein and calcium than milk. Non-dairy creamers, made from corn syrups, water, and plant bases like coconut, lack natural proteins and minerals, contain no vitamins, and often include added sugars and unhealthy fats.
Impact on Children's Health
Nutrition experts warn that lack of adequate milk intake among children contributes to stunted growth, reduced educational performance, weakened immune systems, bone diseases, and other health issues. The saturation of the market with creamers, which many Nigerians cannot distinguish from real milk, denies millions of households, especially children, essential nutrients needed for healthy growth.
Campaign Objectives and Activities
The Choose Milk Campaign, set to run for three years, will drive nationwide awareness through community engagement initiatives, school educative sessions, social media campaigns, TV and radio programs, and other public education activities. The campaign will reach schools, malls, and major markets across Nigeria, giving children and adults the opportunity to taste real milk and learn practical ways to identify and choose authentic milk over creamers, such as reading labels and understanding what to look for. Despite real milk being more expensive, the campaign aims to educate parents that cheap alternatives cannot deliver the essential nutrients families need.
Senior Project Manager from the Danish Dairy Board, Mr. Lars Jensen, emphasized that not all products marketed within the dairy category deliver the same nutritional value. He stated, "It is important for consumers to understand that creamers do not offer the key nutrients found in dairy milk. This campaign is about clarity, transparency, and better health outcomes."
Danish Consul General to Nigeria, Her Excellency Ms. Jette Bjerrum, highlighted the importance of stronger collaboration between public and private sectors in driving nutrition awareness and improving health outcomes. She noted that sustainable progress in nutrition education and dairy development can only be achieved through partnerships among governments, healthcare institutions, development organizations, and responsible industry stakeholders.
Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, in a video message, reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to improving nutrition and strengthening the dairy sector. He said, "This 'Choose Milk' campaign strongly aligns with the ministry's objectives to improve national nutrition, promote sustainable dairy consumption, and strengthen the local dairy value chain."
Industry stakeholder Elele Ogunsanya explained that the Choose Milk initiative is designed to enhance public understanding of the nutritional value of milk and dairy products while addressing common misconceptions. She noted that the 2026 World Milk Day theme underscores the importance of educating mothers and empowering female dairy farmers as critical drivers of improved family nutrition. She emphasized that supporting female dairy farmers with access to knowledge, training, and resources improves productivity and economic opportunities while contributing significantly to the well-being of families and communities.
Snorri Sigurdsson, who heads raw milk production at Arla Nigeria, underscored the importance of backward integration and local dairy development. He referenced the Arla-Dano commercial farm in Damau, Kaduna, as a model for modern dairy development in Nigeria, demonstrating how structured investment in local production can transform the value chain. He stated, "Milk production is steady because there is demand for it. As long as there is demand, there are opportunities for farmers."
Stakeholders and nutritionists emphasize that investing in real milk, especially for children, is crucial for their long-term health and development, despite real milk appearing expensive and beyond the reach of average Nigerians.
