UniAbuja and CODARAN Unite to Revolutionize Nigeria’s Dairy Industry Through Education and Innovation

In a significant stride toward transforming Nigeria’s dairy industry, the University of Abuja and the Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN) have sealed a landmark partnership to boost local milk and fodder production while nurturing the next generation of dairy professionals. The collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the university’s main campus, signals a new era of synergy between academia and the dairy sector.

Source: NigerianTribune

At the heart of the agreement is a shared ambition: to close the skills gap that has long limited the growth of Nigeria’s dairy industry. With rising demand for milk and a chronic shortage of trained professionals, both institutions are aligning resources and expertise to train students, upskill industry workers, and enhance dairy science education through hands-on learning and field-based research.

Muhammadu Abubakar, President of CODARAN, described the MoU as a foundation for the CODARAN-UNIABUJA Dairy Skill Development Programme (CODUNDSKILL), an initiative that will blend academic knowledge with real-world dairy operations. He emphasized the critical need for this collaboration, noting that despite growing interest in dairy entrepreneurship, the lack of technical know-how and specialized training has held the industry back.

For Abubakar and his fellow ranchers, the creation of a Department of Dairy Science at the University of Abuja is more than symbolic—it’s a strategic move to bridge a long-standing gap between the classroom and the farm. “The future of the dairy industry depends on building a skilled workforce,” he said. “And this partnership puts us firmly on that path.”

Professor Patricia Manko Lar, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, echoed that vision with enthusiasm. Calling the agreement a “rare and significant step,” she spoke of a future where milk production in Nigeria not only meets domestic demand but becomes a pillar of economic development and food security. “We are making history,” she declared, “by ensuring dairy science becomes a field of opportunity and impact.”

Beyond academic instruction, the collaboration promises to deliver practical training, develop demonstration farms, and offer certification programs designed to prepare students for careers in modern dairy production. It is a model of how institutions and industry can work hand in hand to solve national challenges—starting from the ground up.

As Nigeria continues to seek solutions to its food production gaps, this partnership stands out as a forward-thinking blueprint. It is not just about producing more milk or growing better fodder—it’s about cultivating knowledge, investing in human capacity, and empowering a generation to lead the transformation of one of the country’s most vital sectors.