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Transforming dairy farming in northern Nigeria

Dairy, USDA

Dr. Okwu Audu James is a USDA Cochran fellow from the 2022 Nigerian cohort hosted by USLGE in Madison, WI. As the Animal Health Intervention Lead for the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN) Program — an initiative funded by the Gates foundation— he has leveraged the knowledge gained from his USDA Cochran Fellowship to train over 60,000 smallholder dairy farmers across 5 northern Nigerian States: Adamawa, Kaduna, Kano, Jigawa, and Plateau.

Recognizing Nigeria’s shortage of veterinary professionals, Dr. Audu has worked on establishing a sustainable model for animal healthcare, training and equipping 132 community-based animal health workers (CAHWs) across the 5 States. Those workers operate under veterinary supervision, ensuring continued access to quality animal health services even after the program concludes. Through this program, he has coordinated a team of 50 dairy technical experts, including veterinarians and animal scientists, to deliver critical services to farmers.

These interventions span impressive accomplishments such as:

  • Treatment and vaccination of over 82,000 cattle, significantly improving herd health and productivity.

  • Training farmers on dairy livestock management, good milking practices, and herd health management, building on their current capacities.
     
  • Educating farmers on antibiotic misuse, biosecurity (isolation/quarantine), and sustainable husbandry practices.

This initiative has not only enhanced milk production and farmer livelihoods but also strengthened the resilience of Nigeria’s dairy sector. By bridging gaps in veterinary care and empowering local stakeholders, this program is paving the way for long-term agricultural growth.