In a decisive push to transform Nigeria’s dairy landscape, Nestlé Nigeria Plc has sealed a strategic pact with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to establish a Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre in Paikon Kore, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding, signals a bold intervention aimed at strengthening technical capacity, improving milk quality, and accelerating productivity across the country’s dairy value chain.
Details of the initiative were contained in a statement by Toritseju Egbebi, who noted that the centre will be sited within the Nestlé Dairy Demonstration Farm, anchoring a broader strategy to scale sustainable dairy practices nationwide.
The project represents a critical evolution of the Nestlé Livestock Development Project, transitioning from pilot phases into a structured, scalable model following earlier milestones, including the 2025 demonstration farm launch and a Letter of Intent signed on World Milk Day.
At its core, the centre is designed to deliver targeted training programmes that will sharpen on-farm practices, enhance milk handling and processing, and instil modern hygiene and farm management standards among local producers.
It will also foster industry-relevant technical skills through collaboration with key stakeholders, while strengthening coordination across dairy clusters to deliver improved quality outcomes and market efficiency.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Nigeria, Wassim Elhusseini, underscored the company’s long-standing commitment to the sector, stressing that improved capability remains the foundation for sustainable growth.
He maintained that the partnership would expand the reach of structured skill-building initiatives, ultimately boosting productivity, raising quality standards, and reinforcing long-term resilience within Nigeria’s dairy ecosystem.
Elhusseini further noted that Nestlé’s investments have consistently focused on creating shared value, supporting rural communities while building a dependable and competitive local supply base.
Since 2019, the Nestlé Livestock Development Project has recorded measurable gains, establishing 83 dairy cooperatives, supporting over 3,000 milk producers, and aggregating more than one million litres of raw milk.
The initiative has also trained over 2,000 pastoralists, vaccinated upwards of 36,000 cattle, and introduced critical infrastructure designed to improve productivity and safeguard livestock health.
On the government’s side, the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhtar Idi Maiha, described the partnership as a practical pathway to unlocking the vast potential within Nigeria’s dairy sector.
He emphasised that stronger technical capacity across the value chain remains essential, while commending Nestlé’s track record in demonstrating scalable solutions capable of delivering real impact.
Maiha added that the initiative aligns with the National Dairy Policy under the National Development Plan, reinforcing federal efforts to drive food security, stimulate economic growth, and build a globally competitive dairy industry.
With the MoU now signed, both parties are set to commence implementation, including finalising training frameworks, preparing the demonstration farm site, and rolling out phased programmes in collaboration with industry stakeholders.
Ultimately, the Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre is poised to become a cornerstone for capacity building, equipping mid-level technical talent and strengthening the foundations of a resilient dairy sector that supports livelihoods and national development.