The Kwara State Government has reiterated it’s commitment to deliberately moving beyond subsistence animal production to a commercialised and industrialised livestock economy through strategic investments and policy interventions.
The State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas, stated this while delivering a keynote address at the Grand Finale of the 2026 Press Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council.
Speaking on the theme, “Livestock Development in a Changing Economy: Innovation, Opportunities and the Role of Strategic Communication in National Growth”, the Commissioner described livestock as one of the most promising sectors capable of driving economic transformation, industrialisation and job creation in Nigeria.
According to her, the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is prioritising the commercialisation of the livestock sector and moving beyond the traditional animal production approach.
She added: ‘The Kwara Government has unveiled ambitious plans to position the State as a major player in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding livestock economy, projected to grow from an estimated 32 billion dollars to over 70 billion dollars in the coming years.
“The State Government was leveraging projects such as the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES) and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) to drive commercialisation.
“Our goal is to invest heavily in livestock development and seek more partnerships to ensure a transition to a commercialised livestock economy.
“We are working towards improving productivity, strengthening livestock value chains, encouraging private investment, reducing imports and positioning Nigeria competitively in the global livestock market.”
The Commissioner added that the future of Nigeria’s economy lies in productive livestock sector, capable of generating sustainable wealth and employment opportunities.
She also said the SAPZ initiative would provide critical infrastructure, including roads, power supply, cold storage facilities, abattoirs, veterinary clinics, artificial insemination centres, cargo facilities and residential accommodation for investors and processors.
“It is not accidental that Kwara is making significant progress in the livestock sector. It reflects leadership, foresight and the clear commitment of Governor AbdulRazaq to position the State prominently in the livestock economy,” she said.
In his welcome address, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Biola Azeez, has called on his members to renew their dedication to truth, accuracy, fairness and responsible journalism in an era of fast-changing digital information, adding that Press Week remains a moment of reflection and recommitment to the core values of the journalism profession.
“Press Week is more than a celebration. It is a solemn moment for reflection, renewal, and recommitment to the ideals that define our profession — truth, accuracy, fairness, and public service,” he said.
Azeez noted that the rapid spread of information in the digital age has made the role of journalists more demanding, stressing the need for practitioners to remain focused on verification and context-driven reporting.
He commended members of the chapel for their resilience in carrying out their duties over the past year, despite challenging working conditions, especially in the coverage of governance, security, health, education and community development issues across Kwara State and beyond.
“Over the past year, members of this chapel have shown resilience in the field, often working under difficult conditions to bring accurate and balanced reporting to the public… For that, I salute you,” he said.
