The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has launched a two-day hands-on workshop for the first group of Livestock Data Collection Officers from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The workshop is aimed at standardising livestock reporting and strengthening Nigeria’s data pipeline.
The training, which began on Thursday, 4th December 2025 in Abuja, forms part of the ministry’s Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to move the livestock sector from planning to full operational readiness.
Chinyere Ijeoma Akujobi, permanent secretary of the ministry, represented by Joseph Ako, director of Livestock Extension Services, said the initiative reflects a nationwide commitment to placing accurate and verifiable data at the heart of policy and sector transformation.
He noted that decades of outdated estimates and inconsistent figures have hindered effective responses to production gaps, disease burdens, and market trends.
“In an era of evidence-based decision-making, data is our most essential resource,” Ako said. “The success of the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy depends on the quality of data we generate.”
The Permanent Secretary highlighted that the participants, trained under a “training-of-trainers” model, will cascade skills to state and local officers.
The workshop will also harmonise data collection tools, strengthen reporting across value chains, and prepare the sector for digital dashboards and real-time decision-making.
The Ministry said it is seeking to close historical data gaps, including the absence of updated livestock population figures since the 1992 census, by building a unified national livestock database.
