By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos
Promasidor Nigeria Limited has reaffirmed its commitment to the growth and transformation of Nigeria’s dairy industry through sustainable local production and strategic investments.
The company made the commitment during the commemoration of World Milk Day 2026 held at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, alongside the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, the Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN), development partners, and other stakeholders in the dairy value chain.
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 deliberate on the future of Nigeria’s dairy industry and the role of women in advancing sustainable growth in the sector.
Among dignitaries at the event were the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Idris Ajimobi; representatives of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment; officials of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development; the Commissioner for Livestock and Fisheries in Niger State; Chairman of CODARAN, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar; as well as development partners and industry stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Maiha, commended Promasidor and other private sector players for their contributions to the development of Nigeria’s dairy sector.
The minister also unveiled the National Dairy Policy Implementation Framework aimed at strengthening local milk production, dairy processing, cold chain systems, milk aggregation, and pasture development across the country.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, the Managing Director of the company, Francois Gillet, said the company remained committed to sustainable dairy development in Nigeria.
“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 commended the efforts of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development under the leadership of the minister, alongside stakeholders and industry operators working towards transforming the dairy sector.
Highlighting Promasidor’s investments in local dairy production, he noted that the company operates the Ikun Dairy Farm in Ikun-Amure, Ekiti State, described as the largest dairy farm in Nigeria.
“At Promasidor Nigeria, we remain committed to advancing Nigeria’s dairy sector through sustainable local production and investment in dairy development.
“We are proud to operate the largest dairy farm in Nigeria, the Ikun Dairy Farm in Ikun-Amure, Ekiti State, with over 750 cattle producing an average of 25 kilograms of milk daily, while indirectly employing over 1,000 people,” he stated.
Also speaking during a panel discussion at the event, the Chief Technical Officer of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Brighton Ochieng, stressed the importance of innovation and technology in modern dairy farming.
According to him, improved genetics, modern dairy management practices, and technology-driven solutions, including artificial intelligence, are essential to improving productivity and building a competitive dairy industry in Nigeria.
He reaffirmed the company’s readiness to continue collaborating with government agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders to strengthen local milk production and Nigeria’s dairy value chain.
The World Milk Day celebration also served as a platform for stakeholders to renew commitments towards increasing local milk production, promoting nutrition, empowering women dairy farmers, and strengthening public-private partnerships in the dairy sector.