The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has stressed the need to strengthen national capacity for accessing climate-finance opportunities to build a resilient and sustainable livestock sector in Nigeria. He made this known in Abuja on Thursday, 11th December 2025, during a Capacity-Building Workshop on improving access to climate adaptation finance for climate-resilient livestock production systems.
The workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in collaboration with the African Group of Negotiations Expert Support AGNES, with support from GIZ. Mukhtar said improving skills in green financing and proposal development is central to the Ministry’s reform agenda, especially in institutionalising climate-smart investment, sustainable production, and innovative funding needed to transform the sector.
He explained that Nigeria’s livestock industry requires deliberate access to green and innovative financing to modernise production systems, strengthen veterinary services, improve genetics, support ranch development, and boost productivity. He noted that these goals are outlined in the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy NL-GAS and the Nigeria Livestock Master Plan.
Mukhtar stated that global market requirements now demand higher standards on traceability, animal welfare, and emissions monitoring, making climate-resilient livestock production essential for competitiveness, food security, and peacebuilding. He appreciated development partners, private-sector actors, and producer groups for their contributions toward building what he described as “a nutrition-secured, climate-resilient and sustainable livestock ecosystem.”
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, represented by the Director Technical, Dr. Alike Peter, praised the Ministry’s strong Technical Working Group on Climate Change. She urged participants to turn Nigeria’s climate challenges into opportunities.
Team Lead for AGNES, Dr. George Wamukoya, said the workshop is an important step in strengthening collaboration between the private sector and government. The Director-General of the Food Industry Practitioners Association of Nigeria FIPAN, Dr. Toromade Francis, pointed out that inadequate feed, fodder, and water availability remain major barriers to livestock productivity.
Participants at the workshop included financial institutions, research bodies, international partners, professional associations, and other key stakeholders.
