For nearly one hundred years, the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Shika-Zaria, has remained a quiet but formidable pillar of Nigeria’s agricultural development.
It began in 1928 as the Shika Cattle Stud Farm, established to improve indigenous cattle breeds, and later expanded into pasture research in the 1950s and grassland management in the 1960s. These early efforts laid the foundation for its transformation into a national research institution in 1976, following its formal establishment under federal law, while remaining administratively linked to Ahmadu Bello University.
Read also: Nigeria targets climate smart livestock feeding to cut emissions, raise output
Over the years, NAPRI’s growth has closely reflected Nigeria’s broader agricultural journey. The Institute gradually developed specialised programmes in beef, dairy, biotechnology, poultry, feeds and nutrition, livestock systems, and small ruminants.
Its achievements, including the development of the ShikaBrown layer chicken, improved forage varieties, and adaptive livestock management systems, stand as clear evidence of its scientific contributions to national development. However, like many public research institutions, NAPRI has also experienced periods of stagnation, limited funding, and declining relevance.
These challenges have affected its ability to fully respond to the changing needs of farmers and the livestock industry. Today, as Nigeria tackles rising food insecurity, climate pressures, youth unemployment, and widening productivity gaps, the Institute has once again come into sharp national focus.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises economic reform, food security, and sustainable development, livestock, long acknowledged for its economic and social significance, has been identified as a strategic pillar for national growth, food sovereignty, and inclusive rural transformation.
Ongoing institutional reforms initiated by Ahmadu Bello University, which align with the policy direction of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, complemented by targeted infrastructure investments, have created fresh opportunities for NAPRI to reclaim its leadership role and reposition itself as a key driver of livestock development and economic transformation in Nigeria.
“Meanwhile, the livestock systems and small ruminant programmes ensure that innovations are adapted to pastoral, semi-intensive, and commercial farming contexts.”
During his January 2026 visit to the Institute, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, minister of Livestock Development, inspected existing facilities and commissioned new equipment provided under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) initiative, including a 500-tonne hay barn, a pasture seed processing unit, drying shades, and solar-powered water systems.
These facilities address one of the most persistent bottlenecks in Nigerian livestock production – feed and pasture scarcity.
In his address, the minister placed the institute within Nigeria’s history and national development journey, reminding stakeholders of its lasting contributions to the livestock sector. He described NAPRI as “the custodian of our national herd, the pioneer of animal production research, and the bedrock upon which our livestock sector has been built.”
At the same time, he spoke on the challenges facing the sector Today, stating that despite its pedigree, Nigeria’s livestock sector continues to underperform relative to global benchmarks.
The country holds one of Africa’s largest cattle populations, yet productivity remains low. Average milk yield per cow stands at about 213 litres annually, compared to over 2,500 litres in leading dairy nations. Beef, sheep, goat, and pig production also lag significantly behind international standards.
The minister’s address acknowledged this uncomfortable reality, describing it as a “productivity gap” that reflects systemic inefficiencies and outdated production models that have not been optimised for the demands of the 21st century.
For NAPRI, this gap represents both a challenge and a mandate, underscoring the urgent need to modernise research priorities, strengthen industry linkages, and reposition the Institute as a driver of commercially relevant innovation. It also reflects the Tinubu administration’s broader determination to revitalise critical sectors of the economy through targeted reforms, sustained investment, and evidence-based policy.
Recognising the need for structural and strategic reorientation, the leadership of Ahmadu Bello University in October 2025 constituted a seven-member reform committee chaired by Prof. Jacob Kwada Kwaga of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
The committee was mandated to examine the root causes of underperformance, review institutional structures, engage stakeholders, and propose reforms in administration, staffing, funding utilisation, and research direction.
During the Minister’s visit,Adamu Ahmed
The vice-chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to this reform process.
He pledged the university’s full support for the transformation agenda and emphasised that NAPRI remains central to Nigeria’s efforts to modernise livestock production, address climate challenges, strengthen food systems, and promote inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Read also: Kogi govt begins upgrade of nine livestock markets
Beyond infrastructure, the minister articulated an ambitious, multi-species vision for NAPRI’s future. He challenged the Institute to adopt a comprehensive approach encompassing dairy, beef, small ruminants, swine, poultry, pasture, and integrated feed systems.
Key targets designed to reposition Nigeria as a competitive producer in regional and global markets include the development of dairy cows capable of yielding between 2,000 and 3,000 litres annually, heat-tolerant and disease-resistant beef cattle reaching up to 500 kilograms at 24 months, and sheep and goats with improved growth rates of 35 to 40 kilograms at 12 months and superior reproductive performance with twinning rates above 150 percent. The minister’s proposed targets also cover climate-adapted commercial pig breeds with fast growth rates of 90 to 100 kilograms at six months, enhanced ShikaBrown layers producing up to 300 eggs per year, and the development of drought-resistant, high-protein pasture varieties to support sustainable livestock production.
According to him, livestock productivity is not merely a function of genetics but of “the entire production ecosystem”, including nutrition, management, and market access.
In countries such as Brazil, Australia, and the Netherlands, livestock research institutions function as hubs linking science, industry, finance, and extension services. One of the most instructive references in the minister’s address was Brazil’s Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa, which, within a few decades, transformed Brazil from a food importer into a global agricultural powerhouse. He noted that Embrapa’s success lay in its ability to generate market-relevant research, foster strong industry linkages, and prioritise commercialisation over academic isolation. For NAPRI, adopting similar principles could mean shifting from research-for-publication to research-for-impact. It implies measuring success by farmer incomes, enterprise growth, and export earnings rather than academic outputs alone.
NAPRI’s existing research programmes provide a strong foundation for this transformation. The Institute’s long-standing work on indigenous and exotic breeds positions it to lead national breeding initiatives. With modern genomic tools and performance testing facilities, these units can spearhead the development of climate-adapted, high-yielding cattle suited to Nigeria’s diverse agroecological zones. Low fertility remains a major constraint in livestock systems.
Upgraded artificial insemination and embryo transfer facilities can accelerate genetic gains and support commercial herd development. Similarly, the ShikaBrown breed is a flagship success story. Scaling its production and improving feed efficiency can reduce dependence on imported parent stock and lower production costs.
Additionally, by optimising crop residues, agro-industrial by-products, and forage resources, NAPRI can help farmers cut feeding costs, which account for up to 70 per cent of production expenses.
Meanwhile, the livestock systems and small ruminant programmes ensure that innovations are adapted to pastoral, semi-intensive, and commercial farming contexts.
No institution can rise above the quality of its people, making sustained investment in training, competitive remuneration, and international exposure essential for long-term success.
In this regard, the Minister pledged strong support for advanced training and exchange programmes, while also calling for the establishment of clear commercialisation pathways through public-private partnerships, licensing arrangements, farmer training initiatives, and digital extension platforms.
Emphasising the urgency of the moment, he declared, “The next decade will determine whether Nigeria becomes a livestock powerhouse or remains dependent on imports. The genetic resources you develop Today will feed our children and grandchildren tomorrow. The technologies you create will determine whether our farmers prosper or stagnate. This is your moment to write history. This is your opportunity to transform not just NAPRI but the entire Nigerian livestock sector. We must find the resources. We must forge partnerships.”
The broader economic and social implications of NAPRI’s transformation over the next decade will be profound. Improved livestock productivity can significantly enhance national food security by increasing the availability of affordable animal protein.
It can generate millions of jobs along value chains in feed production, processing, transport, marketing, and retail. It can reduce foreign exchange losses associated with imports and create new export opportunities. It can strengthen climate resilience through drought-tolerant breeds and pastures.
It can also improve public health outcomes by enhancing the nutritional quality of animal products. In doing so, the Institute will not merely preserve its past achievements but will forge a new legacy, one defined by scientific excellence, economic impact, and national pride.
