” We will invest N3 billion into Nigeria’s dairy growth” – WAMCO as FG, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Renew MOU on Dairy Development Programme
Nigeria’s dairy giant FrieslandCampina WAMCO makers of Peak, Three Crowns and Friso brands of milk announced the company’s decision to invest N3 billion to boost dairy growth in the country.
This was announced by the Managing Director, Mr. Rahul Colaco, at the signing ceremony of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between FrieslandCampina WAMCO and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) in the Federal Capital, Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Colaco said: “We will demonstrate our commitment to the local communities by supporting existing dairy farms starting with Milcopal in Kaduna State by providing them with technical assistance. We will put our money where our mouth is; that is why we are investing over N3 billion in this programme.”
FrieslandCampina WAMCO is the first dairy company in Nigeria to sign such a pact with the Federal Government. The minister and his team had visited the Netherlands in May 2016 to see how the Dutch dairy chain is organized from “grass to glass” and how FrieslandCampina guarantees the safety and quality of her products.
In a statement issued by the company’s Corporate Affairs Director, Ore Famurewa, explained “This is an enormously positive development for FrieslandCampina WAMCO and we see our partnership with the Federal Government as key in rolling out new dairy programmes designed to safeguard food and nutrient security in Nigeria.
“Five years ago in 2011, we signed an MoU with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to improve dairy farming and we made good progress in areas such as networking of milk suppliers, training of dairy farmers and improving the quality of raw milk. Today, we are restating our mutual commitment to developing the Nigerian local dairy industry by creating a sustainable value chain that contributes to food security, provides jobs and prosperity” she said.
Famurewa confirmed the company’s decision to invest N3 billion in its small holder dairy farmer programme in Nigeria and has also agreed to provide support to a FMARD subsidiary, Milcopal, in Kaduna.
The Dairy Development Programme (DDP) is an initiative of FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC. It is a private-public partnership that will trigger growth in the agro-economic sector of Nigeria. The DDP is significant to the history of FrieslandCampina WAMCO “and we believe it will enhance dairy farming in Nigeria as it affirms our unwavering commitment to the provision of quality dairy nutrition to Nigerians” Famurewa said.
The signing ceremony was attended by The Honorable Minister for Agriculture & Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh OFR; The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Shehu Ahmed; Honourable Mohammed Monguno, Chairman House Committee on Agriculture Production and Services. Federal Republic of Nigeria National Assembly; Dr. Danazumi Mohammed Ibrahim, the Director General National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion; The Chairman, Board of Directors, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, Mr. Jacobs Moyo Ajekigbe; The Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, Mr. Rahul Colaco
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