…Mechanised livestock is best way to go- Alake
The livestock sector can become the cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy, given its huge potential to boost industrial growth and foreign trade, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said on Tuesday.
Akume therefore said that the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock Development by the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration underscores its commitment to tapping into the vast economic potential of the sector.
Speaking at the Annual Blueprint Impact Series and Awards Ceremony in Abuja Senator Akume said the sector can become a cornerstone of Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation, particularly in rural communities.
He said the theme of the keynote address, ‘Exploring Potentials of Livestock Exports in Nigeria’, resonates with the focus and direction of the present administration.
He said: “This theme resonates with the focus and direction of government in the livestock sector which holds invaluable potentials for boosting our industrial growth, foreign trade and resolution of some of the most avoidable challenges facing our society as a whole.
“The establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development clearly underscores the importance the President attaches to unlocking the vast potentials in this sector. Nigeria is home to millions of livestock, yet we have barely scratched the surface of its economic possibilities that range from meat and dairy production to hides and skins, and processed exports to regional and global markets.
“This government is assured that through on going strategic investment, infrastructure development, value chain enhancement, and regional trade facilitation, livestock shall become the cornerstone of Nigeria’s socio-economic transformation, especially in rural communities.”
He applauded Blueprint Media for its commitment to promoting development journalism.
He noted that the media organisation’s annual recognition of excellence and contributions to nation-building is a testament to its dedication to national development.
The media, he said, plays a critical role in a democratic nation, serving as a watchdog and promoting national unity, inclusive growth, and accountable governance.
“The media is an indispensable ally and represents the compass needed for the attainment of national goals. This is because you guard our conscience, inform public opinion, shape discourse, and hold leaders accountable. Most importantly, you promote solutions, innovations, and recognise success stories that can inspire progress across all sectors,” he said.
While congratulating the awardees, the SGF lauded them for their contributions to national development, sectoral excellence, and public service.
Also, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, emphasized the need for modernized livestock practices in Nigeria.
Alake also praised the event’s theme — “Exploring the Potentials of Livestock Exports in Nigeria” — noting that improper livestock management has triggered avoidable conflicts and underperformance in the sector.
“We cannot continue in the outdated practice of open grazing. Ranching is the modern alternative — it reduces farmer-herder conflicts and expands the livestock value chain,” he said.
He expressed confidence in the newly created Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and its presidential coordinator, Prof. Attahiru Jega, saying the sector, if properly managed, could outperform even the oil industry in its economic contributions.
“If we do it right, livestock can rival or even surpass oil in GDP contribution. It’s time to modernize and move forward.”
Alake, in his goodwill message at the event, also called on the media to remain a force for national development and social stability.
He decried the deterioration of ethical standards in Nigeria’s media space, blaming the rise of unregulated social media and misinformation.
“We now see the unchecked spread of unverified information, driven by social media users who lack the necessary literacy and training.
“Yet, in the midst of all this, Blueprint stands out as a professional, consistent, and responsible news platform,” Alake said.
The minister, a veteran journalist and former Commissioner for Information in Lagos State, hailed Blueprint’s founder — whom he described as a personal friend and media ally — for promoting developmental journalism at a time when Nigeria needs it most.
Alake concluded by congratulating award recipients and urging Blueprint to sustain its legacy of excellence.
On her part, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said the issue
It excites me, because as you are aware, 70% of the small-model farmers are women. And the main goal of the Renewed Hope agenda of this administartion is to build women’s economic power. She stressed that “It’s not enough to be 70% in the sector. Because when women’s economic power is being built, a lot of the problems that we have in this country will disappear. Our problems around, our challenges around security, nutrition, out of school crisis, our social protection problems around GBV, because I don’t see many future women with economically empowered.
“So this, the Livestock and Farms program excites us. I’m looking forward to collaborating with the World of Society, World of Sustainable Development. And I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the awardees.”
In his lecture, Prof. Attahiru M. Jega,Special Adviser to Mr. President and Coordinator, Livestock Reforms stressed the need to address what he termed “deep-seated structural inefficiencies” while also calling for massive investment in the sector.
He also pointed out the vast opportunities in the sector.
According to him: “The livestock sector occupies a uniquely strategic position within the broader agricultural economy of our nation. Contributing an estimated 7 to 9 percent of agricultural GDP and providing direct and indirect livelihoods to over 20 million Nigerians, this sector is not merely a subset of agriculture—it is a fulcrum upon which rural livelihoods, nutritional security and inter-regional trade dynamics pivot.
“It has undeniable importance and vast latent potential national sovereignty in food and nutrition security, and indeed for income generation and employment opportunities, as well as for export and remarkable contribution to Nigeria’s GDP.
“But to maximally tap this potential, we have to address deep-seated structural inefficiencies, and invest massively and appropriately to overcome them.
“These include: antiquated production systems, fragmented value chains, weak animal health services and suboptimal policy coordination across the tiers of government in the Nigerian federation.
“Compounding these challenges is the persistent scourge of violent farmer-herder conflicts, primarily driven by competition over increasingly scarce natural resources, exacerbated by climate change and poor land governance mechanisms. This violence, in turn, feeds into broader issues of national insecurity, displacement and diminished social cohesion—making reform not only an economic necessity but a peace-building imperative.”
Dignitaries at the event include His Excellency Senator George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Senator Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake; Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha; the Etsu Nupe, His Royal Highness Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, and the Keynote Speaker of the event, Prof. Attahiru Jega, amongst others.
