The federal government has underscored the importance of proper data collection and management on Animal Genetic Resources (AnGR) as a key driver for evidence-based policies, research, and improved livestock productivity in Nigeria.
The permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, stated this during the National Capacity Building Workshop on Data Collection and Management of Animal Genetic Resources, organized by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) in collaboration with the ministry, held on Tuesday in Abuja.
Represented by the director, Technical, in the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Dr Peter Alike, Akujobi emphasised that animal genetic resources form the backbone of livestock productivity, resilience, and climate adaptation.
“This workshop could not have come at a more opportune time, as the livestock sector continues to play a critical role in national food security, economic development, rural livelihoods, and environmental sustainability,” she said.
She described the event as a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s commitment to transforming the livestock sector through innovation, science, and technology, noting that despite the country’s rich diversity of indigenous animal genetic resources, inadequate data systems have limited the sector’s growth potential.
The lack of robust and harmonized data collection and management systems has hampered our ability to fully harness this potential,” she added.
Akujobi said the capacity-building workshop marks a vital step toward strengthening institutional and human capacity to generate reliable data, adopt modern tools, and align with continental and global strategies for sustainable livestock development.
She further reiterated the ministry’s commitment to implementing the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS) — its flagship framework for transforming the sector into a productive, inclusive, and data-driven industry.
“The NL-GAS provides a clear roadmap for improving animal genetics, enhancing feed and fodder systems, strengthening veterinary services, and promoting data-driven decision-making across the entire value chain,” she stated.
The permanent secretary assured stakeholders of the ministry’s continued collaboration with AU-IBAR, regional bodies, research institutions, and development partners to strengthen livestock policies and practices nationwide.
In his remarks, the head of the Northeast Sub-Office for the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in Nigeria, Al Hassan Cisse, described Nigeria as host to the largest livestock population in Africa — with over 58.5 million cattle, 124 million goats, 64 million sheep, 14 million pigs, and 180 million poultry.
He also highlighted Nigeria’s diverse livestock breeds, including the Red Sokoto goat and White Fulani cattle, stressing the urgency of protecting them through robust data systems.
“Globally, one in four local animal breeds is at risk of extinction, and West Africa remains a data-deficient hotspot,” Cisse said, expressing optimism that the workshop would aid in developing data tools and protocols to feed Nigeria’s first-ever AnGR dataset into the global Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS).
The director of AU-IBAR, Mary Mbole-Kariuki, reaffirmed the organisation’s support for African countries through initiatives such as the Genetics Project (2013–2019), which strengthened national capacities for the conservation and sustainable use of animal genetic resources in line with the Global Plan of Action (GPA) for AnGR.
Participants at the workshop included representatives from regional organisations, development partners, research institutions, and other key stakeholders in the livestock sector.
