Nigeria’s Dairy Future Hinges on Women, Innovation and Strategic Investment – Prof. Jega

Nigeria’s Dairy Future Depends on Women, Innovation and Investment – Prof. Jega
PROF. ATTAHIRU M.

JEGA, Special Adviser to the President on Livestock Development and Co-Chairman of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee (PLRIC), made this assertion during the 2026 World Milk Day Celebration. Represented by Professor Demo Kala, a member of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee and Director of the TETFund Dairy Research and Development Centre at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Prof. Jega described the event as timely given the critical importance of milk to both humans and animals. Professor Kala, who was also a panelist at the celebration, expressed delight in joining stakeholders across Nigeria and the global dairy community to commemorate World Milk Day 2026.

According to him, the 2026 theme, “Celebrating Women Dairy Farmers: Promoting Fresh Milk Consumption for a Healthy Nation,” is both timely and significant. He emphasized the vital role women play in milk production globally, noting that women contribute immensely to dairy production, household nutrition, rural livelihoods and community resilience. He stated that women across Nigeria are actively involved in milk production, processing, marketing and value addition, making invaluable contributions to food security and economic development.
Professor Kala further noted that the celebration coincides with the United Nations’ designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer (IYWF 2026). He said the global recognition underscores the indispensable contributions of women to agrifood systems, food security, nutrition and economic growth. He stressed the need for Nigeria’s dairy sector to empower women dairy farmers through improved access to productive assets, finance, technology, skills development, markets and leadership opportunities.

He explained that under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ongoing livestock reforms have positioned dairy development as a key component of efforts to transform Nigeria’s livestock economy. According to him, dairy development is a strategic economic enterprise capable of creating jobs, improving nutrition, stimulating rural industrialization, reducing import dependence, conserving foreign exchange and enhancing national prosperity.

He also described the promotion of fresh milk consumption as both a public health and economic necessity, noting that every litre of locally produced and consumed milk strengthens domestic value chains, creates opportunities for farmers and processors, improves household incomes and contributes to national food and nutrition security.
Professor Kala said the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee remains committed to creating an enabling environment for sustainable dairy development through policy reforms, investment promotion, breed improvement, pasture and feed resource development, infrastructure expansion and stronger public-private partnerships. He added that women and youth must be fully integrated into emerging opportunities within the dairy value chain, while calling on state governments, development partners, financial institutions, research organisations, dairy processors, producer associations and private investors to collaborate in advancing dairy development.

He expressed confidence that such collaboration would help build a vibrant, competitive and sustainable dairy industry capable of delivering nutritious fresh milk, creating wealth and employment opportunities, and contributing significantly to Nigeria’s food security and economic transformation objectives. He concluded by wishing stakeholders a successful World Milk Day 2026 celebration.