Recently, the Choose Milk Campaign – a strategic consumer education initiative, was launched, with the aim of helping Nigerian households make informed dairy choices by strengthening consumer education and awareness on the nutritional benefits of milk consumption.

One of the focal points of the campaign, led by the Danish Dairy Board in partnership with Arla Foods Nigeria and co-funded by the European Union, is the urgent need to address the widespread misconceptions about dairy consumption, while drawing a clear distinction between dairy milk and creamers commonly found in the Nigerian market.

Market survey findings sighted by The Guardian revealed that a lot of Nigerians do not know the difference between milk and creamers. A baseline survey of over 2000 Nigerians across the major cities – Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Kaduna, Onitsha, and Port Harcourt, confirmed that some Nigerians are not aware that real milk is extracted from cows.

A worrying outcome of the report is the fact that 43 per cent of the respondents said creamers are the same as milk, while 28 per cent were unsure. In addition, 45 per cent of respondents outrightly disclosed that they are ignorant of the difference between real milk and creamers, while 55 per cent said they can’t differentiate between dairy-creamers and non-dairy creamers.

Milk is a super food, which contains all essential nutrients needed for healthy body development, growth and functionality. Research has shown that children fed with real milk are generally healthier and tend to perform better academically.

According to nutritionists, while real milk is naturally sourced from cows and high in protein, calcium, Vitamin D, and Vitamin B12, and other essential vitamins, dairy creamers are intended as beverage additives not milk substitutes, made primarily from a mix of dairy products such as milk, cream, or butter, often combined with sugar, stabilisers, and emulsifiers to enhance texture and flavour; they provide much less of the natural proteins and calcium found in milk, though the fat and calorie count can vary depending on whether it is made from whole milk or skimmed milk.

On its part, non-dairy creamers are made from corn syrups, water and plant bases like coconut. Commercial powdered or liquid varieties often rely on hydrogenated or vegetable oils, glucose syrup, and emulsifiers. They lack the natural proteins and minerals found in dairy. They contain no vitamins, but rather added sugars and unhealthy/saturated fats.

Reports have shown that millions of Nigerian households, particularly children, are being denied essential nutrients needed for healthy growth. A major factor in this denial is the saturation of the market with creamers, as most Nigerians cannot easily spot the difference between real milk and non-dairy creamers.

Nutrition experts say that lack of adequate milk intake among children contributes to stunted growth, reduced educational performance, weakened immune systems, bone diseases, and other health issues faced in the country.

The Guardian learnt that this concern gave birth to the Choose Milk Campaign, to address the nutritional abnormality, especially to educate Nigerians on the nutritional benefits of real milk and how to differentiate it from creamers.

The Choose Milk Campaign is expected to run for three years, driving sustained nationwide awareness efforts designed to help consumers better understand authentic dairy products and make informed nutritional decisions that support healthier families and communities. The campaign also will reach consumers across the country through community engagement initiatives, school educative sessions, social media campaigns, TV and radio awareness programmes, and other public education activities.

As designed, the campaign will also reach schools, malls, and major markets across Nigeria.

It will give children and adults the opportunity to taste real milk, while learning practical ways to identify and choose authentic milk over creamers such as reading labels and what tp watch out for.

Though based on market reality, real milk is more expensive, the campaign is expected to educate parents that cheap alternatives cannot deliver the essential nutrients families need.

Speaking during the launch, the Senior Project Manager from the Danish Dairy Board, Mr. Lars Jensen, noted that not all products marketed within the dairy category deliver the same nutritional value, “It is important for consumers to understand that creamers do not offer the key nutrients found in dairy milk. This campaign is about clarity, transparency, and better health outcomes. We are taking this message directly to communities, schools and nutrition advocates because education at the grassroots level is key to driving lasting behavioral change.”

In her remarks, the Danish Consul General to Nigeria, Her Excellency, Ms. Jette Bjerrum, emphasised the importance of stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors in driving nutrition awareness and improving health outcomes.

She noted that sustainable progress in nutrition education and dairy development can only be achieved through partnerships among governments, healthcare institutions, development organisations, and responsible industry stakeholders.

Echoing this call for collaboration and shared responsibility in improving nutrition outcomes, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, in a video message played during the event, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to improving nutrition and strengthening the dairy sector in Nigeria.

“This ‘Choose Milk’ campaign strongly aligns with the ministry’s objectives to improve national nutrition, promote sustainable dairy consumption, and strengthen the local dairy value chain. By encouraging Nigerians to prioritise dairy milk, we are taking a significant step towards building a healthier and more food-secure nation,” he said.

Speaking on the importance of real milk in promoting wholesome family nutrition, industry stakeholder, Elele Ogunsanya explained that the Choose Milk initiative is designed to enhance public understanding of the nutritional value of milk and dairy products, while addressing common misconceptions and misinformation surrounding dairy consumption.

According to her, the 2026 World Milk Day theme underscores the importance of educating mothers and empowering female dairy farmers as critical drivers of improved family nutrition and healthier communities in the milk way. She noted that women play a central role in both food production and household nutrition decisions, making their empowerment essential to achieving sustainable nutrition outcomes.

Ogunsanya further emphasised that supporting female dairy farmers with access to knowledge, training, and resources not only improves productivity and economic opportunities but also contributes significantly to the wellbeing of families and communities.

“We believe empowering female farmers with knowledge and skills does not only strengthen livelihoods, it strengthens families and communities. Their work deserves to be seen, valued and celebrated,” Ogunsanya stated.

Another stakeholder, Snorri Sigurdsson, who heads raw milk production in Arla Nigeria, who spoke during a panel session during the recent World Milk Day celebration in Abuja, underscored the importance of backward integration and local dairy development as critical drivers of a sustainable dairy industry in the country.

He emphasised that strengthening collaboration with the government and building reliable production systems are essential to unlocking long-term growth in the sector.

Referencing the Arla-Dano commercial farm in Damau in Kaduna, a state-of-the-art dairy facility and a model for modern dairy development in Nigeria, he pointed to it as a practical example of how structured investment in local production can transform the value chain.

“Milk production is steady because there is demand for it. As long as there is demand, there are opportunities for farmers,” Sigurdsson stated.

The World Milk Day session focused on opportunities for female dairy farmers and brought together stakeholders to explore pathways for greater inclusion, improved productivity, and sustainable growth across the dairy value chain.

Though real milk seems expensive and beyond the reach of average Nigerians and cheap milk is not real, stakeholders in the dairy industry and nutritionists told The Guardian that investing in real milk, especially for children, is crucial for their long-term health and development.