Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has announced an ambitious plan to empower 1,000 youths per state through strategic initiatives aimed at unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s livestock sector.
This announcement was made by the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, during the closing ceremony of the four-day Hack4Livestock Hackathon held in Abuja. The statement was delivered on his behalf by his Special Assistant, Mr. Eustace Iyayi.
According to the Ministry, the empowerment scheme aligns with the Nigerian Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy—a package designed to integrate digital innovation into livestock development while promoting inclusive participation, particularly for women and underrepresented groups.
“We intend to build capacity for 1,000 youths in each state across various value chains within the livestock sector,” Alhaji Maiha stated. “Technology is a key enabler, and this digital project presents a timely opportunity to accelerate our growth targets.”
Highlighting the transformative role of artificial intelligence, Professor Idris Bugaje, Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), represented by Mr. Aliyu Imafidor, noted that the projects showcased during the hackathon demonstrated how AI is reshaping not just livestock but other critical sectors like education, healthcare, and agriculture.
Bugaje commended the participants for their innovation and dedication, saying, “Your ingenuity is a catalyst for national progress. May your efforts inspire a generation of tech-driven problem solvers.”
At the heart of the event was Agro Alliance, the winning team of the Hack4Livestock 2025 edition. Represented by Mr. Gbenga Sesan, the team unveiled an AI-powered, IoT-based real-time solution designed to address farmer-herder conflicts—a longstanding issue in Nigeria. The system detects cattle intrusions on farms and sends instant alerts to farmers via SMS, notifications, and calls, while also triggering alarms to deter livestock.
“This innovation reduces losses, prevents conflict, and promotes peaceful coexistence,” Sesan explained. “We are ready to partner with security agencies and stakeholders to take this solution nationwide.”
In recognition of excellence, Agro Alliance received a grand prize of N5 million, while JVincent and Livestocx took home N3 million and N2 million respectively for second and third positions.
The event drew high-level stakeholders from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)—underscoring a united front in fostering innovation for national development.
By Taiwo Olatinwo | May 24th, 2025
Discover more from DnewsInfo
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
