Livestock Ministry, Christian Aid Partner on Youth, Women Poultry Initiative

News in brief:

-FMLD and Christian Aid are collaborating on a five-year poultry transformation programme targeting youth and women.

-The initiative aligns with NL-GAS objectives on food security, employment, and inclusive economic growth.

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) has reaffirmed its commitment to youth and women empowerment in the livestock sector under the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, as it strengthens collaboration with Christian Aid on a large-scale poultry transformation initiative.

Speaking while receiving a delegation from Christian Aid on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, said the partnership aligns directly with the Ministry’s mandate to promote food security, job creation, climate-smart agriculture, and inclusive economic growth.

Focus on Women and Youths

Dr Akujobi emphasised the Ministry’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for programmes that deliver measurable and sustainable outcomes, particularly for women and young people. She urged stakeholders to prioritise practical, evidence-based implementation over conceptual approaches to achieve tangible results.

According to her, productivity, climate resilience, innovation, and inclusivity must remain central to livestock sector interventions if they are to make meaningful contributions to national development objectives.

Emphasis on Accountability and Sustainability

The Permanent Secretary underscored the importance of learning from past interventions, calling for the integration of robust risk-mitigation measures, effective monitoring and evaluation frameworks, and transparent governance structures in programme design and execution.

She also emphasised the importance of deliberate farmer profiling, credible data systems, and targeted outreach to genuine livestock producers. Dr Akujobi identified access to affordable feed, veterinary and extension services, disease control, waste management, and backward integration strategies as critical success factors for long-term sustainability and cost reduction in poultry production.

Overview of the SEPT Initiative

Presenting the proposed intervention, the Economic and Gender Justice Lead at Christian Aid, Munachi Ugochukwu, explained that the Sustainable Entrepreneurship-Led Poultry Transformation (SEPT) initiative is a five-year programme supported by the Mastercard Foundation.

He said the initiative is designed to address youth unemployment and gender inequality by unlocking opportunities across the poultry value chain. The programme is expected to reach over 220,000 youth and women across seven states, with a strong focus on underserved and marginalised communities.

Value Chain Development

Mr Ugochukwu disclosed that at least 80% of the beneficiaries will be women, while persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons have been deliberately included in the programme design.

Key components of the initiative include access to scalable markets, skills development, entrepreneurship and business management training, access to affordable finance at single-digit interest rates, and the adoption of climate-smart poultry production practices. He added that the programme will also promote aggregation, market linkages, and private sector participation to enhance profitability and sustainability for beneficiaries.