Nigeria has secured a $496 million dairy investment deal with a United Kingdom-based firm, Asset Green Ltd, to strengthen food security, reduce import dependence, and modernise the country’s agricultural sector.

The agreement, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was signed in London yesterday between the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and Asset Green Ltd ahead of a state visit.

The deal outlines development plans for a large-scale integrated dairy livestock production and processing platform.

The project is expected to combine 20,000 hectares of climate-smart farming with a 10,000-milking cow dairy operation and a modern processing facility capable of producing milk, butter, cream, milk powder, and up to 15,000 metric tonnes of infant formula yearly.

Beyond production, the initiative will integrate up to 10,000 rural households into the value chain through out-grower schemes, while also generating about 2,500 direct and 5,000 indirect jobs nationwide.

Speaking on the development, the Managing Director of NSIA, Aminu Umar-Sadiq, described the project as transformative.

On his part, British Deputy High Commissioner Jonny Baxter highlighted the long-standing partnership between Nigeria and the United Kingdom, noting that the collaboration reflects sustained economic cooperation.

MEANWHILE, plans between the Nigerian government and Coventry University have reached an advanced stage to establish a campus of the institution in Nigeria through a Transnational Education (TNE) partnership.

This comes as the number of Nigerians studying in the United Kingdom between 2015 and 2025 has risen to about 150,000.

Already, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, is currently in the United Kingdom accompanying President Bola Tinubu and engaging with UK university leadership, key investors and development partners to drive the initiative forward.

The Director of Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, made this known in a statement yesterday in Abuja.

She revealed that the proposed campus, to be located in Alaro City, Lagos State, would offer Bachelor’s and master’s programmes in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM), Business, and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

According to her, all degrees would be equivalent to those awarded in the United Kingdom.

She disclosed that admissions were expected to commence between the third and fourth quarters of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

Speaking on the development, the Minister said: “We want Nigerian parents to enjoy having their children at home while still receiving a world-class UK education.”