Nigeria and Nestlé Forge Partnership to Establish Dairy Training Centre
In a significant move to bolster the dairy industry, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and Nestlé Nigeria Plc have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create a Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre. This facility will be located at the Nestlé Dairy Demonstration Farm in Paikon Kore, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as part of efforts to strengthen technical capacity, improve milk quality, and enhance productivity within Nigeria's dairy sector.
Building on Existing Initiatives
The new centre builds upon Nestlé's ongoing Livestock Development Project (NLDP), reflecting a deliberate progression from earlier interventions. According to a statement by Toritseju Egbebi, Corporate Affairs Manager at Nestlé Nigeria, this initiative follows the launch of the Demonstration Farm in 2025 and a Letter of Intent signed on World Milk Day 2025. Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, emphasized that these milestones mark a transition from pilot projects to full implementation, adopting a more structured and scalable approach to skills development across the dairy value chain.
Structured Training and Collaboration
Elhusseini detailed that the collaboration will deliver structured training programmes focused on:
- Strengthening on-farm practices in milk production, processing, hygiene, and farm management.
- Developing industry-relevant technical skills in partnership with key stakeholders.
- Improving value chain coordination and milk quality outcomes across local dairy clusters.
He stated, "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. This partnership allows us to expand our structured approach to building skills for productivity, quality, and sustainability." Elhusseini added that Nestlé's investment aims to create shared value for communities while supporting a resilient local supply base.
Impact of Previous Efforts
Since 2019, the Nestlé Livestock Development Project has collaborated with dairy communities to improve milk quality, increase productivity, and strengthen livelihoods. To date, the initiative has:
- Established 83 dairy cooperatives.
- Benefited over 3,000 milk producers.
- Aggregated more than one million litres of raw milk.
- Trained over 2,000 pastoralists.
- Vaccinated over 36,744 cattle.
- Introduced key infrastructure to support production.
Government Support and Alignment
At the signing ceremony, Minister of Livestock Development Mukhtar Idi Maiha highlighted the significant potential of Nigeria's dairy sector, noting that unlocking it requires stronger technical capability. He commended Nestlé Nigeria for their commitment and proven track record, stating, "This partnership represents a practical step towards improving productivity and quality. At the Ministry, we are committed to creating an enabling environment that supports investments, ensuring policy and partnerships drive meaningful impact for a resilient and competitive dairy industry."
The minister added that the initiative aligns with the National Dairy Policy under the National Development Plan, which aims to catalyse growth in livestock and dairy sectors while enhancing food security and economic opportunities.
Next Steps and Implementation
Following the MoU signing, both parties will proceed with implementation, including finalising the training framework, preparing the site at the Demonstration Farm, and commencing a phased rollout of the programme in collaboration with relevant stakeholders. The Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre will provide a structured platform for training and capacity building, focusing on mid-level technical skills critical for the sector's long-term sustainability. The programme will be implemented in alignment with national standards and industry needs to ensure effectiveness and relevance.
