FG Champion Women’s Empowerment in Livestock Sector

News in brief:

-FG declares women the backbone of the livestock economy and outlines major initiatives to increase their participation in high-value activities.

-The Ministry announces forthcoming national programmes and backs AWARFA-N’s new five-year strategy to expand opportunities for women in livestock.

The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to placing women at the centre of Nigeria’s livestock transformation, declaring that they are the backbone of the livestock economy.

Speaking at a high-level breakfast meeting in Abuja, the Minister emphasised that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has elevated livestock as a national development priority, opening new pathways for women to lead businesses, drive innovation, and scale successful enterprises. He also commended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her sustained advocacy on women’s empowerment.

Women's Primary Role in Livestock Production

Maiha assured participants that the ministry will work closely with the African Women in Animal Resources Farming and Agribusiness Network (AWARFA-N) and other partners to strengthen women’s roles across livestock value chains.

“You are not behind the scenes; you are on the front lines… This Ministry is your partner,” the Minister said, pledging support for women-led ventures in honey, goats, dairy, and poultry.

NL-GAS Prioritises Women and Youth

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, highlighted the indispensable role women play in food production, family nutrition, and community markets. She noted that the Ministry’s National Livestock Growth and Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) identifies Women and Youth as one of its ten strategic pillars.

Dr Akujobi also announced the upcoming launch of the National Presidential Youth and Women Initiatives in Livestock, a major programme expected to create thousands of jobs across Nigeria’s 774 LGAs.

AWARFA-N Unveils Five-Year Strategy

Presenting AWARFA-N’s new vision for 2025–2029, Victoria Madedor outlined a strategy built around five pillars: sustainability, capacity building, access to finance, value-chain development, technology, and advocacy.

She called for deeper partnerships to help women access land, climate-smart technologies, feed production expertise, and the financing needed to scale their agribusiness enterprises.

AU-IBAR Calls for Intentional Inclusion of Women

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of AU-IBAR, Dr Sarah Ossiya stressed the urgent need to intentionally include more women in Africa’s livestock systems.

She cited data showing that undernutrition reduces Africa’s GDP by up to 10%, underscoring the link between animal feed, household nutrition, and economic resilience.

“When you feed animals right, you feed people right,” she noted, calling for expanded financing and land-use reforms to unlock women’s full potential.