Nigeria Deepens Livestock Investment Cooperation with Belgium, Luxembourg

News in brief:

-Nigeria and the Benelux region have launched a new Livestock Investment and Cooperation Platform to drive technology transfer, capacity building, and private-sector projects.

-Officials from Belgium and Luxembourg praised Nigeria’s growing agri-export trends, youth-driven innovation, and strong potential for sustainable livestock development.

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development announced that Nigeria has recorded significant progress in strengthening international livestock partnerships following its participation in the 3rd Nigeria–Belgium–Luxembourg Business Forum, held in October 2025, in Brussels, Belgium.

Representing the Federal Government, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, delivered a keynote address titled Unlocking Opportunities for Sustainable Agribusiness and Livestock Development Between Nigeria and the Benelux Region.

She reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to modernising the livestock sector under the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) and encouraged investors from Belgium and Luxembourg to tap into high-value opportunities across beef, dairy, poultry, small ruminants, piggery, honey production, feed and fodder innovation, animal health systems, and cold-chain infrastructure.

New Livestock Investment Platform Endorsed

A major outcome of the forum was the endorsement of the Nigeria–Belgium–Luxembourg Livestock Investment and Cooperation Platform (NBL-LICP). The platform is designed to deepen public–private partnerships, promote technology transfer, facilitate capacity building, and support the development of bankable livestock projects across Nigeria.

Dr Akujobi described the platform as a strategic milestone. “This collaboration marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s livestock development agenda. The Platform will serve as a bridge for knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and sustainable investments that benefit all partners," she stated.

Benelux Region Signals Growing Confidence in Nigeria’s Agriculture

Belgium’s Ambassador to Nigeria, H.E. Pieter Leenknegt, highlighted shifting trade patterns that show growing Nigerian competitiveness. He noted that cocoa has now overtaken crude oil as Nigeria’s leading export to Belgium, describing the trend as evidence of a post-fossil, more diversified Nigerian economy.

He added that these developments signal renewed optimism for deeper agribusiness and industrial cooperation between Nigeria and the Benelux region.

President of the Nigeria–Belgium–Luxembourg Business Forum, Mr Jacques Massart, praised Nigeria’s vibrant youth population, describing the country as a global force reshaping enterprise through FinTech, AgriTech, AI, green energy, bio-agriculture, and smart health technologies.

Massart said the future lies in strategic collaboration, adding that a blend of Belgian precision and Nigerian ambition presents immense potential for shared prosperity, innovation, and sustainable economic development.