KWSG Holds Stakeholders Session on Livestock Development

The Kwara State Government has held a stakeholders' engagement to create pathways on livestock development.The event which was held at the E-Phoenix Hotel today in Ilorin, was organised by the State Ministry of Livestock Development, and had in attendance, representatives of the Federal and State governments, relevant ministries, departments and agencies, researchers, private investors, representative of Fulani communities, and livestock value chain operators, among others.

The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas while declaring the event open, reiterated the State government's commitment to policies and programmes that would support rural development, promote agribusiness, and ensure the modernisation of livestock to reposition the sector to an economically viable and environmentally sustainable enterprise in the State.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Director of Animal Husbandry Services of the Ministry, Mallam Umar Ahmed Mohammed said the Ministry was aware of the enormous challenges in the livestock sector of the State and the need to meet stakeholders to brainstorm together and formulate an action plan that would reshape the future of the industry in the State.

While highlighting the State Government's strides in the sector, Mrs. Thomas said the present administration under Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had facilitated numerous livestock infrastructural facilities such as milk collecting centres, feed mills, animal handling, dispensary, in the grazing reserve and ranch as well as the provision of water facilities along the stock routes across the State.

She commended the State governor's investment in the livestock sector, and the impacts of the projects implemented by Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) to the economic livelihood of the people in the sector.

The Commissioner further enjoined the participants to contribute meaningfully to the discussion with a view to having an  inclusive action plan on livestock production and food security in the State.

The Special Adviser on Strategy to the State Governor, Hon. Atiku Abdulsalam stated that the event further reinforced the present administration's inclusive governance and show of support for  pastoralists, livestock farmers, and other value chain actors in the sector. "We must engage the private sector and development partners to scale up investments in the livestock value chains, from meat processing, to dairy production, transportation and export. There are immense opportunities waiting to be unlocked through strategic partnerships". he said 

In his remarks, the Special Assistant on Fulani matters, Hon. Abdullahi Seriki said the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq has shown the recognition and  important role of Fulanis in strengthening food security and the security of the State at large.

He, however, appealed to the Ministry to always involve the Fulani stakeholders in their planned programmes for easier information dissemination related to their lives and businesses.

On his part, a university don, Professor Badmus Abdulhameed called for collaboration between government, researchers, education institutions, professional bodies and other relevant Stakeholders in formulating acceptable policies beneficial to everybody involved in livestock business in the State.

Earlier, the facilitator of the programme, Mr. Abdulraheem Yahaya Onipe had explained that the essence of the meeting was to have the stakeholders opinions on a sustainable way to manage livestock facilities, which had been facilitated to the State, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. 

He acknowledged the need for private-driven investment policies that would favour both the government and investors in the sector.

Yusuf Ganiyu Adebisi 

Project Communication and ICT Officer 

Kwara L-PRES

0706 554 6176