NIRSAL Plc, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, has initiated a Feedlot Management Training Programme.
This program is designed to equip stakeholders within Nigeria’s livestock industry to leverage the recent $2.5 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) agreement secured by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with JBS, a major international meat processing company.
This strategic action aims to establish Nigeria as a primary provider of premium beef for both the national and global markets.
The first cohort of the training programme in Abuja recently came at a critical moment when Nigeria is stepping into the spotlight as a global meat investment destination.
The JBS partnership will see six modern meat processing plants built across the country, two of which will be dedicated to beef.
This will usher in increased demand for premium feedstock from local producers.
Speaking at the opening session, Mr. Sa’ad Hamidu, Managing Director/CEO of NIRSAL Plc, laid out the program’s strategic intent: “This is not just another training; it is a targeted intervention aimed at creating bankable agribusinesses by improving feed formulation practices, reducing input waste, and optimising livestock finishing cycles for increased market value.
“As it is, we are preparing Nigerian livestock producers to feed not just the nation, but the world. And this aligns directly with the Federal Government’s vision for an agriculturally empowered, export-ready nation.”
Amongst other accomplishments, the programme targets the production of export-grade meat in Nigeria, while improving the productivity and profitability of the producers.
Though the $2.5 billion deal with JBS is the most notable in a series of investments in Nigeria’s livestock subsector, it is not the only one.
Local companies like ABIS Group also invest significantly in the meat value chain, creating further demand for high-quality feedstock.
Participants in the first cohort of the training program were drawn from the Ministry of Livestock Development, the Agric Department of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), National Association of Cattle Dealers, Processors & Marketers of Nigeria (NACDPMAN), Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN), Maidoki Farms Ltd, and others.
Livestock Development Ministry’s Director of Ranch and Pastoral Resources Development, Shekamang Ayuba, described the training he attended as “eye-opening and apt” and advocated for its national roll-out.
Despite its vast potential, Nigeria’s livestock sector faces significant challenges, including outdated methods, subpar feed quality, and insufficient funding, hindering its development.
NIRSAL intends to transform this sub-sector by closing structural gaps via a multi-faceted approach: building technical expertise, providing risk-sharing incentives for lenders, supporting the entire value chain, and fostering strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors.
Source: Tribune Online
Image Credit: Facebook
