The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha has emphasised that proper and adequate training in livestock development will enhance food security and create more job opportunities, particularly for the youth in Nigeria.
During his inspection of the ABIS Group Livestock Processing Facility construction site in the Idu area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, the minister highlighted the shortage of skilled personnel in livestock management. He stressed that establishing a training institute by ABIS Group would help address this gap and significantly contribute to the sector’s growth.
“The establishment of a training institute by ABIS Group will equip Nigerians with the necessary skills to effectively manage livestock, thereby enhancing food security and creating jobs,” the Minister stated. He assured ABIS Group of the ministry’s unwavering support to help ensure the institute produces world-class professionals in livestock development.
Commending the resilience and dedication of the ABIS Group, the minister pledged the ministry’s partnership to help realise the group’s vision of redefining livestock processing in Nigeria. He reiterated that the livestock sector has immense potential for job creation and economic growth.
In his welcome address, founder and chairman of ABIS Group, Ambassador Emmanuel Usman explained that the organisation is driven by a vision to redefine livestock processing through innovation, sustainability and excellence.
Highlighting their achievements, Usman stated, “Our Lagos facility processes 200 cattle daily, 15,000 poultry birds and 100 tonnes of fish, creating over 500 direct jobs and contributing significantly to economic growth and food security.”
He further explained that the state-of-the-art, fully automated Idu plant, once completed, would process 1,000 cattle, 400-600 tonnes of poultry, 2,000 goats and rams, 1,000 tonnes of fish and 10-15 tonnes of sausages daily. This $30 million investment is expected to create 1,000 direct jobs and over 20,000 indirect jobs across the livestock value chain.
A statement from the ministry’s director of information and public relations, Ben Bem Goong mentioned that the founder called for the minister’s assistance in expediting the clearing of critical containers arriving at Nigerian ports within 10 days and in partnering to establish the ABIS Livestock Academy as a centre of excellence to enhance technical capacity in the livestock sector.
The minister was accompanied by key officials from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
