The Federal Government has announced its plan to empower 1,000 youths in every Nigerian state with different livestock value projects supported with technological innovations.
FG recently revealed that it is ready to tackle the problems associated with the livestock value chain across the country.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of a four-day Hack4Livestock Hackathon competition held at Galaxy Backbone Building, Abuja, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, said that work is ongoing to ensure the challenges in the sector are eradicated with the help of AI and Internet of Things (IoT).
Alhaji Idi, represented by his Special Adviser, Eustace Iyayi, revealed that the initiative can take full advantage of digital platforms to trigger growth and development in the livestock industry.
According to him, his ministry has a lot of faith in digital skills and the key role it can play in transforming livestock as we know it in Nigeria, and the plan remains to ensure women are involved in livestock activities.
“I want to say on behalf of the minister that currently we plan to capacitate 1,000 youths per state, including diversity across the country, in different values in the livestock sector.
We are aware that this digital project is going to be very helpful in doing that. We live in a world where we can just dive and get to anywhere we want to go.
We are looking at women also getting involved in livestock activities, and we also believe that projects like these are going to be very helpful,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said that the Hack4Livestock Hackathon winners would receive support for startups and international exposure.
Elaborating on the international exposure, he disclosed that the winners would be flown out of the country to present their ideas at a July conference at the University of Florida, in addition to the incubation, funding, and intellectual property protection they are already entitled to.
“Beyond the financial benefits, the immediate impact for the first winners is to present their ideas at a conference at the University of Florida in July, providing invaluable international exposure.
A comprehensive support system awaits the three top winners.
They will receive incubation, funding, and intellectual property protection through the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), a special purpose vehicle of NITDA that is responsible for managing and handling startups.
ONDI will provide end-to-end support, including incubation, capacity development, funding, and Intellectual Property (IP) protection, ensuring these promising ventures have everything they need to thrive,” he added.
