Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, has said government’s vision is to build a Nigeria where children have improved access to nutritious food, farmers earn sustainable incomes, dairy processors benefit from stronger local supply chains and young people find meaningful employment and enterprise opportunities across the livestock value chain.
Maiha, who commended Arla Foods for organising its Open Day event, urged stakeholders in the sector to look ahead and focus on the lasting impact of their collective efforts.
He spoke at the 2026 Arla-Dano Damau Open Day organised by Arla Foods Nigeria, which brought together farmers, students, government representatives, development partners and dairy industry stakeholders for a two-day showcase of modern dairy farming.
He said: “While celebrating the Arla-Dano Farm Open Day today, the sector needs to look ahead and focus on the lasting impact of its collective efforts. Our shared ambition should be a Nigeria where children have improved access to nutritious food, farmers earn sustainable incomes, dairy processors benefit from stronger local supply chains, and young people find meaningful employment and enterprise opportunities across the livestock value chain.
“Achieving this ambition requires sustained collaboration, responsible investment and a shared commitment to results. I urge all stakeholders to build on the partnerships demonstrated here today and pursue practical initiatives that improve child nutrition, increase local production, create jobs and strengthen community livelihoods.”
Also speaking, Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Arla Foods Nigeria, Ms Elele Ogunsanya, said: “At Arla, we believe dairy plays an important role in nourishing communities, supporting livelihoods and creating opportunities across the value chain. Here in Nigeria, that commitment extends beyond the products we offer. It is reflected in our efforts to develop local dairy farming, strengthen farmer capabilities, share knowledge and build partnerships that contribute to a more resilient dairy sector. By investing in people, skills and local milk production, we are helping to create lasting value for farmers, communities and future generations.”
Meanwhile, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Murtala Dabo, commended the school feeding programme and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to providing the policy stability, security cooperation and enabling infrastructure needed to support investments such as the Damau project.
He said: “I am particularly pleased that today’s engagement also highlights the Kaduna School Feeding Project, which offers an opportunity to connect local dairy production with improved child nutrition and education. By incorporating locally produced milk into school feeding, we can strengthen demand for our farmers’ products while improving the wellbeing of our children.”
As Nigeria seeks to strengthen its domestic dairy capacity, the experience at Damau highlighted the importance of combining practical learning, investment and collaboration to build a more productive and self-sufficient dairy sector. It also underscored the potential to inspire the next generation of dairy professionals and unlock new opportunities across the industry.
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