Nigerian Minister Applauds APMD Platform as a Game-Changer in Africa's Livestock Revolution

The African Pastoral Market Development (APMD) Platform, an ambitious initiative to transform Africa's pastoral and livestock markets, was officially launched this week at the Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.

The three-day event brought together policymakers, development partners, and stakeholders from across the continent, marking a significant milestone in efforts to bolster food security and economic growth within Africa’s pastoral communities.

Speaking at the launch, Nigeria’s Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Muktar Maiha, highlighted the importance of the platform, describing it as a groundbreaking initiative aligned with Nigeria’s commitment to transforming its livestock industry.

“This ambitious project, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, targets eight African countries. It fosters inclusive, market-driven, and adaptive transformations within pastoral communities,” he stated.

The APMD Platform aims to address key challenges faced by pastoralists by focusing on policy development, private sector integration, data system enhancements, youth and women empowerment, and climate resilience.

Kenya’s Minister for Livestock, Jonathan Mueke, praised the platform’s design and its transformative potential. He emphasized its focus on leveraging stakeholder collaboration to achieve impactful outcomes for the livestock industry.

“The platform’s well-defined interventions are poised to make the pastoral economy vibrant and a significant contributor to better household incomes and commercial inputs of animal origin,” Mueke said.

He further stressed the need for robust stakeholder support to mobilize the financial and human resources required for successful implementation, noting that the platform could ensure a profitable and sustainable pastoral sub-sector.

Alhaji echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the platform’s objectives, if successfully implemented, would significantly contribute to national economic development and the attainment of food and nutrition security across sub-Saharan Africa.

Coordinated by the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the APMD initiative designates Nigeria and Kenya as "lighthouses" for the Sahel and Horn of Africa regions, respectively. Maiha expressed Nigeria’s readiness to collaborate with regional and international partners to drive the initiative’s success.

“The Ministry of Livestock Development is committed to transforming the livestock sector from its current subsistence level into a thriving, commercialized industry,” he remarked. “This transformation will create jobs, provide sustainable livelihoods, and promote peaceful coexistence between pastoralists, farmers, and other stakeholders.”

The minister also emphasized the need to integrate innovative technologies and build functional, efficient markets to address the vulnerabilities of pastoral communities. He called on development partners, private sector investors, and professional organizations to support Nigeria and other participating countries in achieving the project’s goals.

The APMD Platform’s motto, “Empowering Pastoral Markets, Transforming Livelihoods, for a Resilient Africa,” encapsulates its vision of strengthening pastoral markets to improve the livelihoods of millions. Maiha assured AU-IBAR and other stakeholders of Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the platform’s implementation.

“The Ministry of Livestock Development will provide institutional and technical facilitation while mobilizing other ministries and countries within the Sahel cluster to ensure the attainment of the set objectives,” he affirmed.

Alhaji also extended gratitude to the Government of Kenya and AU-IBAR for their hospitality and dedication to the project. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to regional and continental collaboration in addressing the challenges faced by Africa’s pastoral communities.

Dr. Huyam Salih, Director of AU-IBAR, described the initiative as a significant step toward advancing sustainable livestock development across Africa.

“Livestock is critical to food and nutrition security, economic growth, and trade on the continent. The launch of this platform is a bold step toward maximizing these contributions,” she noted.

Dr. Salih further emphasized that the platform aligns with Africa’s livestock development strategy and AU-IBAR’s commitment to transforming the sector by prioritizing pastoralists’ needs, enhancing market linkages, and promoting food security.

Trade experts at the launch hailed APMD Platform as a cornerstone for sustainable development in Africa’s livestock sector, equipping pastoralists with the tools and opportunities needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive and climate-vulnerable world.

"The APMD Platform is designed to create a more market-oriented production system, directly benefiting producers," said Mr. Yoseph Shiferaw Mamo, Senior Livestock and Fisheries Officer at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).