Nigeria’s livestock industry, a cornerstone of the nation’s economy contributing over 5% to GDP and sustaining 40 million livelihoods, faces urgent challenges—inefficient grazing systems, deadly farmer-herder conflicts, and disease outbreaks like the 2023 avian flu that wiped out 2 million poultry birds.
To tackle these crises, the federal government, in partnership with tech giants and NGOs, launches Hack4Livestock, a four-day hackathon in Abuja seeking groundbreaking digital solutions. “This isn’t just a competition—it’s a national intervention,” says Dr. Amina Aliyu, Director of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR). “We need homegrown innovations to secure our food systems and empower rural communities.”
Open to developers, entrepreneurs, farmers, and policymakers, the initiative targets scalable tools for livestock monitoring, conflict prediction, and transparent supply chains.
Proposed solutions could range from AI-driven disease detection apps to blockchain platforms for fair cattle pricing—a critical need in a sector where middlemen often exploit herders. “My cooperative lost N10 million last year due to price manipulation,” shares Musa Bello, a Fulani herder from Katsina. “Technology that connects us directly to buyers would change everything.”
The hackathon’s ambitious goals align with Nigeria’s National Livestock Transformation Plan, which aims to reduce clashes and boost productivity through modernization. Yet adoption lags: less than 15% of herders use digital tools, per a 2024 Luminate Foundation report. Hack4Livestock seeks to change this by prioritizing inclusivity. For the first time, pastoralists will co-design solutions alongside engineers, ensuring tech meets on-ground needs. “You can’t fix problems from an office in Lagos,” argues hackathon coordinator Tunde Oke. “Farmers will join teams as equal partners, not just end users.”
Participants will compete for a N10 million prize pool, mentorship from Silicon Valley AgriTech leaders, and incubation support from Ford Foundation-backed hubs.
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