Wedoany.com Report on Feb 7th, The Nigerian Federal Government recently announced a strategic partnership with the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank to jointly address the challenges posed by climate change to the livestock sector. This collaboration was officially disclosed by Dr. Chinweire-Ijeoma Akujoobi, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, during a meeting with representatives from the two financial institutions in Abuja.
Dr. Akujoobi stated: "This partnership aims to unlock opportunities for sustainable growth, enhance the resilience of the sector, and promote environmentally friendly practices across the entire livestock value chain." She noted that this initiative aligns with the ministry's mandate to both mitigate the impact of climate change on production and safeguard the livelihoods of those working in the industry.
Dr. Ohaeri Ezenwa, Director of the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics, emphasized the necessity of strategic interventions to protect the livestock sector from the increasing impacts of climate risks. Dr. Alike Peter, Director of Technical Services and head of the Climate Change Technical Working Group, further explained: "Policies based on reliable data are crucial for climate-smart livestock farming. Through evidence-based planning, coordinated national action can be achieved, improving productivity and sustainability while reducing emissions."
Dr. Peter revealed that the Technical Working Group is supporting the *National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy*, which aims to increase the sector's contribution to Nigeria's GDP from approximately $32 billion to $74 billion within a decade. He added: "Both growth pathways directly impact greenhouse gas emissions, making climate considerations a core element of development planning." Furthermore, the ministry is working with the World Bank to establish a national methane emissions baseline and develop emission reduction plans based on scientific evidence. This will strengthen Nigeria's Nationally Determined Contributions under global climate agreements and facilitate access to carbon markets.
Dr. Harrison Charo Karisa, representing the World Bank Group, highlighted opportunities in areas such as climate-smart aquaculture, the blue economy, and carbon financing mechanisms. He stated: "Innovative products like seaweed can serve as nutritious feed supplements while also helping to reduce emissions." Dr. Youssouf Kabore, Chief Livestock Officer at the African Development Bank, commended the ministry's proactive approach and pledged continued support for practical climate interventions. This collaboration is expected to steer Nigeria's livestock sector towards a more sustainable, economically resilient, and environmentally responsible development path.
