N-HYPPADEC, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT TO COLLABORATE ON ESTABLISHMENT OF LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT CENTRES.

N-HYPPADEC, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT TO COLLABORATE ON ESTABLISHMENT OF LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT CENTRES.

SET UP COMMITTEE TO FAST-TRACK IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development have agreed to collaborate on the establishment of Livestock Development Centres across N-HYPPADEC’s 10 member states.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Hon. Idi Mukhtar Maiha, made the proposal when he paid a courtesy visit to the Commission’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State, on Friday, October 2nd.

Mr Maiha said livestock was central to the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians, noting that every part of the country had one form of livestock activity or another.

He said the ministry, being the youngest in the country, had the task of transforming the livestock sector into a modern, market-oriented and sustainable sector capable of creating jobs and improving livelihoods.

According to him, the ministry was seeking strategic partners to achieve its objectives and identified N-HYPPADEC as an important partner, particularly because of its interventions and operations in communities across 10 member states.

The minister, while acknowledging the Commission’s impactful interventions in riverine communities, stressed that water is fundamental to livestock development.

He said the ministry is already engaging state governments on the establishment of Livestock Development Centres, where states would provide suitable land and select livestock value chains to be developed jointly by the federal and state governments, as well as the private sector.

Mr Maiha said N-HYPPADEC could play a significant role in the programme through its experience in community development, youth and women empowerment, provision of social amenities and other interventions.

“And we do see that my MD, there is a role your esteemed Commission will play in the development of these livestock development centres. We know that you are very, very active in the development of these riverine communities; you are very active in the capacity building of youths, both men and women; you are very active in the provision of other social amenities,” he said.

“And we do believe that we can have convergence in what you do and what we do”, he added.

He proposed the establishment of a joint committee to identify areas of common interest and develop a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to guide the partnership.

Responding, the Managing Director of N-HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, appreciated the minister for the visit, saying it provided an opportunity to deepen understanding and explore practical areas of collaboration.

Alhaji Yelwa said N-HYPPADEC had already commenced interventions in poultry production, animal fattening and small-ruminant rearing through its youth transformation programme, alongside advocacy for women in agriculture, alternative feed formulation and value addition.

He said the Commission was developing a Renewed Hope Livestock Development Programme anchored on an integrated approach covering community livestock farm settlements, household poultry initiatives, community-based feed formulation centres, community abattoir development, farmer-herder engagement and advocacy, pastoral and nomadic education, water monitoring, channelling and weather monitoring.

He, however, clarified that the proposal was not to duplicate the responsibilities of the ministry, but to complement its policy and technical leadership with N-HYPPADEC's grassroots presence, community platforms, infrastructure interventions and implementation capacity.

Alhaji Yelwa solicited collaboration in pasture and fodder development, feed production and technical support, access to affordable financing, women and youth empowerment, and the development of modern community abattoirs.

“As a way forward, we would welcome a structured partnership beginning with the identification of selected N-HYPPADEC communities for pilot interventions, with the prospect of scaling up successful initiatives across our 10 member states,” he said.

The minister was accompanied by his aides and the National Coordinator of L-Press, Dr. Sunusi Abubakar; Niger State Commissioner for Livestock and Fisheries Development, Abdullahi Mamagi; and Deputy Chief of Staff to the Niger State Governor, Sadiq Yusuf.