The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has pledged to partner with the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) for the 2026 Conference on Animal Agriculture, in a move aimed at strengthening collaboration and boosting the sector’s growth.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, made this known when he received a delegation from the Local Organising Committee (LOC), led by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NIAS, Udo Herbert, at his office in Abuja on Wednesday.
Maiha said the ministry would actively support the 9th edition of the conference, which is scheduled to hold in 2026 after being shifted from 2025.
According to him, the conference will feature lectures and exhibitions, and he urged stakeholders across sectors to rally support for the event.
“There will be lectures and exhibition displays during the conference, and I call on all stakeholders, both in the private sector, financial institutions and development partners, to give support to the conference,” he said.
The minister stressed that adequate planning would be critical to the success of the event, noting that expectations from the international community are high.
“The conference, which was rescheduled from 2025 to 2026, would need adequate planning for a good outing,” he said, adding that “the expectations of the international communities towards Nigeria hosting this conference is quite high and strong.”
He further disclosed that all state offices of the Ministry of Livestock Development would be actively involved in the conference.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Grace Jokthan, said the event would convene experts, researchers and stakeholders from across Africa to discuss developments and best practices in animal agriculture.
She explained that the conference is expected to drive sustainable economic growth through improved livestock production.
“The conference would bring together experts, researchers, and stakeholders from Africa to discuss developments and best practices in animal agriculture and livestock production that would culminate in sustainable economic growth for Nigeria,” she said.
Jokthan noted that preparations were already underway, covering logistics, partnerships and participant engagement, and appealed for the ministry’s guidance and support to ensure a successful outing.
She added that submission of conference papers and abstracts had commenced, while awareness campaigns were ongoing across social media platforms to mobilise participants for the event.
