By Ayomide Otitoju
Promasidor Nigeria Limited has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s dairy industry through sustainable local production and strategic investments as stakeholders gathered in Abuja to commemorate World Milk Day 2026.
The company joined the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, the Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN), development partners, and other key players in the dairy value chain at the event held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
The conference, themed “Celebrating Women Dairy Farmers – Promoting Fresh Milk Consumption for a Healthy Nation,” brought together policymakers, industry leaders, dairy farmers, researchers, development partners, media practitioners, and private-sector operators to discuss the future of Nigeria’s dairy sector and the role of women in driving sustainable growth.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha; the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Idris Ajimobi; representatives of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; state government officials, including the Commissioner for Livestock and Fisheries of Niger State; the Chairman of CODARAN, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar; development partners; and other industry stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Maiha commended Promasidor and other private-sector operators for their contributions to the development of Nigeria’s dairy industry. He also unveiled the National Dairy Policy Implementation Framework, designed to boost local milk production, strengthen dairy processing and cold chain infrastructure, improve milk aggregation systems, and support pasture development nationwide.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Promasidor, the company’s Managing Director, Francois Gillet, said the organisation remained dedicated to supporting the transformation of Nigeria’s dairy sector through investments in local production and capacity development.
“It is a great honour to join you as we commemorate World Milk Day 2026 under the theme, ‘Celebrating Women Dairy Farmers – Promoting Fresh Milk Consumption for a Healthy Nation.’ Today, we celebrate the vital contributions of women dairy farmers to food security, livelihoods, and improved nutrition across our communities,” he said.
Gillet also commended the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and other stakeholders for their efforts to strengthen the country’s dairy industry.
Highlighting Promasidor’s investments in the sector, he noted that the company operates the Ikun Dairy Farm in Ikun-Amure, Ekiti State, which he described as the largest dairy farm in Nigeria.
According to him, the farm has over 750 cattle producing an average of 25 kilograms of milk daily and indirectly provides employment for more than 1,000 people.
As part of the event, Promasidor’s Chief Technical Officer, Brighton Ochieng, participated in a high-level panel discussion where he shared insights into the company’s dairy operations and the role of technology in improving productivity.
Ochieng underscored the importance of innovation, modern dairy management practices, improved cattle genetics, and technology-driven solutions, including artificial intelligence, in building a more competitive dairy industry.
He reiterated the company’s commitment to collaborating with government agencies, development partners, and industry stakeholders to enhance local milk production and strengthen Nigeria’s dairy value chain.
The World Milk Day celebration provided a platform for stakeholders to renew commitments toward increasing local milk production, promoting nutrition, empowering women dairy farmers, and fostering public-private partnerships aimed at accelerating the growth of Nigeria’s dairy sector.
Promasidor said it remains focused on providing quality nutrition to Nigerians while supporting sustainable dairy development initiatives that create jobs, empower communities, and contribute to national food security.
