• Nigeria is discussing a partnership with Heifer International to support livestock development.

• Talks focus on technical cooperation and more productive, sustainable livestock systems.

• The move aligns with Abuja’s goal to double milk production to 1.4 million tons by 2030.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Livestock Development announced on March 10 that it has begun discussions with the U.S.-based NGO Heifer International to help accelerate the transformation of the country’s livestock sector. In a statement published on its website, the ministry said the talks focused on strengthening technical cooperation and developing sustainable, productive livestock models.

Heifer International, which has been operating in Nigeria since 2021, is already active in agricultural and rural development. Its programs include farmer training, social inclusion initiatives, and support for market access, with the broader goal of strengthening agriculture and livestock as pillars of food security and rural prosperity.

Its flagship program, “Naija Unlock,” aims to improve food self-sufficiency by increasing local production and boosting the incomes of smallholder farmers and low-income rural households. Since its launch, nearly 3.9 million farming households have been integrated into the program, which has so far focused on three priority value chains: rice, poultry, and tomatoes.

According to the ministry, Heifer International’s president, Surita Sandosham, expressed the organization’s willingness to act as a technical partner to the Nigerian government. The NGO would share expertise in areas such as dairy productivity, community-based veterinary services, animal health, and youth-led livestock enterprises.

The discussions come as Nigeria pursues ambitious goals for its dairy industry. In June last year, the government announced plans to double national milk production to 1.4 million tons by 2030, with support from the private sector and international partners.

Before these talks with Heifer International, the ministry had already announced in February that it was joining a trilateral partnership with Brazil and the United Kingdom under the “Trilateral Initiative for Climate-Smart Livestock Systems,” a project aimed at improving cattle productivity through new technologies.

Stéphanas Assocle