The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, has emphasised that strengthening national capacity to access climate-finance opportunities is essential for building a resilient and sustainable livestock sector in Nigeria.
He stated this in Abuja on Thursday, 11th December 2025, at a Capacity-Building Workshop on improving access to climate adaptation finance for climate-resilient livestock production systems.
The workshop was organised by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development in collaboration with the African Group of Negotiations Expert Support (AGNES), and support from GIZ.
According to the Minister, stronger capacity in green financing and proposal development is vital to the Ministry’s reform agenda, particularly in institutionalising climate-smart investment, sustainable production, and innovative funding needed to transform the sector.
Mukhtar explained that Nigeria’s livestock industry requires deliberate access to green and innovative financing to modernise production systems, strengthen veterinary services, improve genetics, support ranch development, and boost productivity. These priorities, he said, are captured in the Nigeria Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) and the Nigeria Livestock Master Plan.
According to the Minister, global market requirements now include stronger standards on traceability, animal welfare, and emissions monitoring, making climate-resilient livestock production a necessity for competitiveness, food security, and peacebuilding.
He commended development partners, private-sector actors, and producer groups for their ongoing support toward building “a nutrition-secured, climate-resilient and sustainable livestock ecosystem.”
The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, who was represented by the Director Technical, Dr. Alike Peter, commended the Ministry’s strong Technical Working Group on Climate Change and urged participants to convert Nigeria’s climate challenges into opportunities.
Team Lead for AGNES, Dr. George Wamukoya, described the workshop as a key step in strengthening partnerships between the private sector and government. Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Food Industry Practitioners Association of Nigeria (FIPAN), Dr. Toromade Francis, highlighted inadequate feed, fodder, and water availability as major constraints to livestock productivity.
Participants were drawn from financial institutions, research bodies, international partners, professional associations, and other key stakeholders.