FG, Animal Science Institute Partner To Drive Livestock Investment

The federal government has partnered the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) to drive investment and strengthen value chains in the livestock sector ahead of the 2026 Conference on Animal Agriculture.

Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday while receiving a delegation from the conference’s Local Organising Committee (LOC), led by the NIAS Registrar.

Maiha said the conference would serve as a platform to mobilise private capital and deepen collaboration across the sector, noting that it would feature technical sessions, exhibitions and stakeholder engagements.

“There will be lectures and exhibition displays during the conference, and we call on stakeholders, including the private sector, financial institutions and development partners, to support this initiative,” he said.

He added that the event, rescheduled from 2025 to 2026, requires adequate planning to meet international expectations, stressing that Nigeria must deliver a successful outing.

“The expectations of the international community are quite high, and we must ensure proper planning for a successful conference,” the minister stated.

Maiha further disclosed that all state offices of the ministry would participate in the conference to ensure broader inclusion and impact.

Earlier, chairman of the LOC, Prof. Grace Jokthan, said the conference would bring together experts, researchers and stakeholders from across Africa to discuss developments and best practices in animal agriculture.

“This conference will bring together experts, researchers and stakeholders from across Africa to discuss developments and best practices in animal agriculture that will drive sustainable economic growth,” she said.

Jokthan noted that preparations were ongoing, covering logistics, partnerships and participant engagement, adding that submission of papers and abstracts had commenced.

“We have begun preparations, including logistics, partnerships and participant engagement, while submissions of papers and abstracts are already ongoing,” she added.

She appealed to the ministry for support and guidance to ensure a successful hosting of the event, noting that awareness campaigns were ongoing across various platforms to mobilise participation.