Nigeria, Ireland to collaborate in revolutionizing livestock industry
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, on Thursday, received the Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Ryan, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja to discuss strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and livestock development.
During the courtesy visit, both parties explored avenues for deepening collaboration between Nigeria and Ireland, particularly in the areas of livestock genetics, sustainable grazing systems, farmer cooperatives, and agricultural research.
Ambassador Ryan highlighted Ireland’s evolution from an agrarian society to a global leader in technology and services, while still retaining farming as a key cultural and economic pillar. He noted that the country supports over 130,000 family-owned farms through a strong cooperative system and government-backed advisory services.
“Our farming sector is deeply rooted in community and tradition,” Ryan said. “Every farm is family-owned, and every farmer has access to a dedicated farm advisor. This model, combined with robust education and research investments, has helped us triple our dairy output since 2015.”
He proposed greater collaboration with Nigeria in key areas such as livestock breeding, extension services, and farmer capacity-building. Ryan also highlighted the importance of tertiary education and practical training, citing Ireland’s global reputation for integrating academia with hands-on farming experience.
In response, Minister Maiha expressed admiration for Ireland’s agricultural progress and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to learning from Ireland’s experience. “We are in a season of transformation, and we are eager to adopt best practices in livestock development, disease control, and cooperative farming,” he said.
As part of the collaborative efforts, the Irish envoy invited a Nigerian delegation to attend Ireland’s National Plowing Championship in September 2025 — an event that draws over 250,000 attendees, including policymakers, researchers, and agribusiness stakeholders.
The meeting also explored long-term initiatives such as student exchange programmes in agricultural sciences and support for strengthening Nigeria’s key livestock institutions — the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) and the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI).
A notable outcome of the meeting was the announcement of a May 2025 visit to Nigeria by Professor Stephen Onakuse, an Ireland-based Nigerian expert in livestock genetics and grazing systems. Facilitated by the Irish Embassy, his visit aims to kickstart technical partnerships between Nigerian and Irish institutions in the livestock sector.
