Livestock Industry Foundation for Africa (LIFA) has paid a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs M. M. Ibitoye, as part of its efforts to strengthen institutional partnerships and contribute to sustainable livestock and agricultural development in Oyo State.
The visit, which took place at the Ministry’s headquarters in Ibadan, provided an opportunity for LIFA to formally introduce its organisation, share its achievements, present its ongoing initiatives, and explore opportunities for collaboration with the Oyo State Government. The Permanent Secretary warmly received the LIFA delegation, while Directors of the Ministry were also present during the engagement.
During the presentation, LIFA highlighted its mission of promoting sustainable livestock production, strengthening livestock value chains, building the capacity of farmers and livestock professionals, and improving the livelihoods of rural communities through practical interventions, technical knowledge, innovation, and strategic partnerships.
Founded by Dr. Stephen Oluwole Adejoro, LIFA is a youth-driven, Nigeria-based non-governmental organisation with programmes extending across several African countries. The organisation has trained and certified over 14,000 farmers and livestock professionals, with interventions spanning 15 African countries. Its programmes have focused particularly on poultry health and nutrition, animal disease prevention, climate-smart livestock production, farmers’ capacity development, and sustainable agricultural practices.
The delegation also highlighted LIFA’s international engagements and recognition, particularly the 2024 Innovator of the Year Award received by its President, Dr. Stephen Oluwole Adejoro, from the Farm Foundation, USA. The recognition acknowledged his leadership and contributions to improving livestock farmers’ awareness of vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies associated with humid tropical climatic conditions.
LIFA Presents Key Areas of Potential Collaboration
A major highlight of the engagement was the presentation of proposed areas of collaboration through which LIFA could complement the agricultural development priorities of the Oyo State Government.
The proposed areas include:
1. Farmer Training and Capacity Development
LIFA expressed its readiness to work with the Ministry in organising practical training programmes for poultry farmers, livestock producers, agricultural extension officers, and farmer groups. The proposed training areas include improved animal husbandry, poultry health, nutrition, biosecurity, and farm business management.
2. Women and Youth Empowerment
The organisation proposed collaborative initiatives aimed at equipping women and young people with practical livestock production skills, entrepreneurial knowledge, and opportunities to establish sustainable agribusinesses.
3. Climate-Smart Livestock Production
Recognising the growing impact of climate-related challenges on livestock production, LIFA proposed supporting programmes that promote heat-stress management, efficient resource utilisation, appropriate animal housing, and improved farm management practices.
4. Feed Innovation and Affordability
LIFA also presented its interest in promoting affordable and locally sourced livestock feed resources, particularly through the utilisation of agricultural by-products. The organisation highlighted its exploration of plantain pseudo-stems as an alternative feed resource, with attention to nutritional quality and feed safety.
5. Aba-Odo Demonstration Farm Development
Another important area discussed was the development of LIFA’s Aba-Odo Demonstration Farm, located in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, as a practical training and knowledge-sharing centre.
The proposed facility is envisioned as a platform for agricultural diversification, farmer training, practical demonstrations, locally sourced feed innovations, and the promotion of sustainable livestock production practices. LIFA expressed its interest in exploring opportunities for the facility to support the Ministry’s agricultural extension and farmer development initiatives.
6. Research, Innovation and Institutional Partnerships
LIFA further expressed its willingness to collaborate with relevant government agencies, universities, research institutions, and development partners to generate evidence, test practical agricultural solutions, and implement interventions that improve livestock productivity and rural livelihoods.
Towards a Sustainable Partnership with Oyo State
In its concluding remarks, the LIFA delegation emphasised the importance of institutional collaboration in addressing the challenges facing the livestock sector and unlocking opportunities for agricultural development. The organisation expressed its readiness to contribute its technical expertise, training capacity, farmer engagement networks, and development partnerships towards supporting the state’s agricultural development objectives.
LIFA also sought the guidance and support of the Oyo State Government in identifying appropriate departments, agencies, and programmes through which a constructive working relationship could be established.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing practical, measurable, and sustainable interventions that would benefit farmers, women, young people, and rural communities across Oyo State. The visit represents an important step in LIFA’s efforts to strengthen engagement with government institutions and expand opportunities for collaborative agricultural development in Nigeria.
About Livestock Industry Foundation for Africa (LIFA)
Livestock Industry Foundation for Africa (LIFA) is a Nigerian-based non-governmental organisation committed to sustainable livestock development, farmer capacity building, agricultural innovation, and rural transformation. Through training, technical knowledge dissemination, research, and strategic partnerships, LIFA works to strengthen livestock value chains and improve the livelihoods of farmers and livestock professionals across Africa.
For more information, visit: https://blog.lifango.org
