Kwara State is seeking private-sector investment in its livestock and dairy industries as it explores a potential partnership with FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria to increase local production, strengthen the dairy value chain and improve farmers’ incomes.
The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Oloruntoyosi Thomas, disclosed the development today, November 5, 2026, following a meeting with representatives of the dairy company.
According to a report by The Punch today, the discussions focused on possible collaboration in livestock production, agricultural investment and opportunities to connect local farmers with private-sector operators.
Thomas said the state was looking to attract credible investors capable of providing the capital, technical expertise and innovative solutions needed to expand the industry.
She noted that government resources alone would not be sufficient to deliver the desired growth, stressing the importance of partnerships with established private-sector organisations.
The commissioner said closer collaboration with FrieslandCampina WAMCO could create opportunities for local livestock farmers to adopt modern agricultural practices, improve productivity and participate more actively in the dairy industry.
She also identified potential benefits including employment generation, stronger small and medium-scale businesses and improved livelihoods for farming communities.
However, the meeting has not produced a publicly announced investment agreement. Thomas said further work would be required to translate the discussions into concrete areas of collaboration.
The engagement comes as Kwara continues to implement reforms aimed at improving productivity across its livestock industry.
In a September 12, 2026 report by AgroNigeria, Thomas disclosed that average annual milk production per cow in the state had increased from 274.5 litres at the beginning of the intervention to 352.2 litres in 2025, representing a 28.3% improvement.
She also reported that average cattle carcass weight increased from 135kg to 190.8kg over the same period.
The commissioner attributed the improvements to interventions covering animal health, farmer training, infrastructure development and pasture management.
Despite the reported progress, she identified weak breeding systems, inadequate pasture production and poor maintenance of completed infrastructure among the challenges facing the industry.
Thomas also highlighted livestock marketing, feed processing and cold-chain facilities as areas where additional private investment would be necessary to strengthen the value chain.
For FrieslandCampina WAMCO, a potential partnership could provide an opportunity to deepen its engagement with local milk producers and strengthen domestic sourcing, although the company has not publicly disclosed any investment commitment arising from the discussions.
The immediate test for Kwara will be whether the engagement can move beyond discussions to a structured commercial partnership that delivers investment, expands local milk production and improves the earnings of livestock farmers.
