FG launches national training to strengthen livestock extension services

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has launched a three day national capacity building programme to upgrade the technical skills of livestock extension officers from all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, a move aimed at improving advisory services and boosting productivity across the livestock sector.

The workshop which opened in Abuja on Monday, December 1, 2025 is designed to standardise extension messaging nationwide and deepen the application of good animal husbandry practices at the farm level.

Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, represented by Joseph Ako, Director in the Livestock Extension and Business Development Department, told participants that the Ministry is focused on building a modern and commercially viable livestock industry that supports food security and economic diversification.

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She said livestock extension officers remain central to the transformation agenda since they connect research innovations to farmers and shape the implementation of national livestock policies across communities.

Ako urged participants to take full advantage of the training noting that their enhanced competence will have direct impact on farmers nationwide.

The programme supports the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy which places extension delivery at the core of efforts to modernise production systems, strengthen animal welfare practices and raise national output.

Participants will receive training in good animal husbandry practices, animal welfare, feed management, disease control, biosecurity, waste management, the one health approach, breeding and reproduction, record keeping, humane handling and extension communication methods.

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.