Milk Day: FG targets 37,000 women, youth in livestock empowerment scheme
The federal government has unveiled plans to create economic opportunities for 37,000 women and young Nigerians through a proposed Women and Youth in Livestock Empowerment Initiative aimed at boosting participation across the livestock value chain, particularly in the dairy sector.
Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, stated this 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 forms part of the government’s broader strategy to transform Nigeria’s livestock industry while promoting inclusive growth and economic empowerment.
He said the programme is designed to support women and youth engaged in dairy production, processing, marketing and agribusiness through targeted interventions that will enhance productivity and income generation.
Maiha added that the initiative, which is currently undergoing stakeholder consultations and programme design, would provide beneficiaries with skills acquisition, enterprise support, access to finance, technology transfer, cooperative strengthening and market integration opportunities.
He said: “As we celebrate women dairy farmers this year, we recognise their critical role in strengthening household nutrition, supporting rural livelihoods and driving 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 had laid the foundation for coordinated reforms aimed at unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s livestock and dairy industries.
He further stated that the ministry had validated the National Dairy Policy Implementation Framework following a stakeholders’ engagement held in November 2025, adding that the framework would be officially unveiled on June 1, 2026.
Maiha said the framework provides a roadmap for achieving measurable outcomes in the dairy sector, while efforts under the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) are being intensified to increase local milk production and drive dairy industrialisation.