Nestlé Nigeria Plc has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development to establish a Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre in Paikon Kore, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as part of efforts to strengthen technical capacity, improve milk quality, and enhance productivity within the country’s dairy sector.
  
The Centre, to be located at the Nestlé Dairy Demonstration Farm, builds on the company’s ongoing Livestock Development Project (NLDP).
  
In a statement signed by the Corporate Affairs Manager, Nestle Nigeria, Toritseju Egbebi, the centre also reflects a deliberate progression of interventions, from the launch of the Demonstration Farm in 2025 to the signing of a Letter of Intent on World Milk Day 2025.
  
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Wassim Elhusseini, said together, these milestones signal the transition from pilot initiatives to full implementation and a more structured, scalable approach to skills development across the dairy value chain.
  
He said the collaboration will deliver structured training programmes and targeted interventions focused on strengthening on-farm practices across milk production, processing, hygiene, and farm management, developing industry-relevant technical skills in collaboration with key stakeholders and improving value chain coordination and milk quality outcomes across local dairy clusters.
  
“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 with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development allows us to expand the reach of our structured approach to building the skills required to improve productivity, enhance quality, and support long-term sustainability in the sector,” he said.
  
Elhusseini added that the company’s investment in dairy development has consistently focused on creating shared value for communities while supporting the growth of a resilient local supply base.
  
He said since 2019, the Nestlé Livestock Development Project has been working with dairy communities in Nigeria to improve milk quality, increase productivity, and strengthen livelihoods.
  
He said to date, the initiative has established 83 dairy cooperatives, benefiting over 3,000 milk producers and aggregating more than one million litres of raw milk.
  
Elhusseini noted that over 2,000 pastoralists have been trained, over 36,744 cattle vaccinated, and key infrastructure introduced to support production.
  
Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhtar Idi Maiha, said Nigeria’s dairy sector holds significant potential, but unlocking it requires stronger technical capability across the value chain.
  
He said this partnership represents a practical step towards improving productivity and quality, while commending Nestlé Nigeria for their continued commitment and proven track record through the Nestlé Livestock Development Project.
  
“At the Ministry, we are committed to creating an enabling environment that supports investments such as this, ensuring that policy and partnerships work together to drive meaningful impact and build a more resilient and competitive dairy industry,” the Minister stated.
  
The Minister noted that the initiative aligns with the objectives of the National Dairy Policy under the National Development Plan, which aims to catalyse growth in the livestock and dairy sectors while enhancing food security and economic opportunity.
   
Following the signing of the MoU, both parties will move into implementation, including finalising the training framework, preparing the site at the Demonstration Farm, and commencing phased rollout of the programme in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
   
The minister said the Dairy Technical Skills Development Centre will provide a structured platform for training and capacity building, with a focus on developing mid-level technical skills that are critical to the long-term sustainability of the sector.
 
He noted that the programme will be implemented in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to ensure alignment with national standards and industry needs.