The Federal Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Chief Audu Ogbeh, has commended FrieslandCampina WAMCO, makers of Peak and Three Crowns milk, for laying the groundwork for local milk sourcing and development in the country, and for uplifting the lives of Nigerian dairy farmers.

The Minister made these comments on Monday July 10, while visiting the company’s state-of-the-art local milk collection facilities in Fashola Village and Iseyin town, both in Oyo State. The centres support the company’s Dairy Development Programme (DDP).

Ogbeh said he hoped for the day when every Nigerian child could drink two pints of fresh milk a day, as he commended FrieslandCampina WAMCO for its commitment to the nation.

“It will be wonderful if each Nigerian child can get two pints of fresh Nigerian milk daily and we express the gratitude of government to FrieslandCampina WAMCO for ongoing efforts in this regard. We appreciate and commend your commitment and investment because not many investors are willing to go this far. We are delighted,” he said.

The Minister noted that the company’s investments have guaranteed steady incomes for the Fulanis and improved their living conditions.

“We have seen Fulanis living in a Yoruba community and speaking fluent Yoruba. No fights, no quarrels, no threats of eviction. It is remarkable and FrieslandCampina WAMCO’s intervention should be commended for being instrumental to this,” the Minister said.

From left, Operations Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Doyin Ashiru; Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Oyewole Oyewumi; Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Ben Langat; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; and Corporate Affairs Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Ore Famurewa, during the Minister’s inspection of WAMCO’s Milk Collection Centres in Oyo State, Monday July 10, 2017

Commenting on the Minister’s accolades, the Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Ben Langat, thanked the minister and explained:

“No other dairy company in Nigeria has started collecting milk locally for production, only FrieslandCampina WAMCO, since 2011. Although there is a deficit of good infrastructure like roads, power and water, still we are grateful to the Honourable Minister, FMARD, Sahel and the Oyo State Government for partnering with us.

“So far we have provided 15 boreholes in the communities here in Oyo State. We are in this for the long run. We are investing funds and expertise in artificial insemination, cattle feeding and pasture for high yield in order to raise locally sourced milk to the desired levels for production” Langat said.

Chief Ogbeh assured FrieslandCapina WAMCO of the government’s continued partnership, while he affirmed that improved local production of milk was the solution to addressing the shortage of milk supply.

“Indeed we need to improve the breed of our cattle and the Ministry will partner with FrieslandCampina WAMCO to develop the programme. The import bill on milk is very high, while milk consumption among young people is too low. We can’t continue like that because of the effect on their brain and capacity.”

The Minister also promised the government’s resolute commitment to addressing the issue of poor roads and adequate water supply in the communities.

“Let me say from today that FrieslandCampina WAMCO can count on us to be your partners. Something has to be done about the roads not too long from now. We are happy to see the families, women and the community leaders and we will help with more boreholes as the Ministry has rigs and we will deploy them here.”

FrieslandCampina WAMCO has been investing in the DDP since 2011 and has established the country’s largest milk collection network. Today the company collects milk from about 1700 farmers in over 70 communities in Oyo State. The company has five milk collection centres and one Bulking Centre for its Dairy Development Programme in Oyo State.