Nigeria’s $3bn Honey Deficit: Government, Youths Unite to “Bee the Change” on World Bee Day

Nigeria has marked World Bee Day with a powerful message from both its government and its youth: the future of agriculture, economic growth, and environmental resilience could lie in the wings of bees—and in the hands of young Nigerians.
At the joint celebration of World Bee Day and the 6th Nigerian Youth Beekeepers Summit held in Abuja, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the Youths for Apiculture Initiative (YFAI) issued a unified national call to action: “Bee inspired by nature to nourish us all.”
The event, the first to be officially organized by the newly created Ministry, came amid a sobering statistic: Nigeria currently produces just 40,000 tonnes of honey annually, against a national demand of 400,000 tonnes—leaving a $3 billion gap filled by imports.
“This is more than a honey deficit. It’s an opportunity deficit—and we’re here to close it,” said YFAI National President, Mr. Kingsley Nwaogu. “Apiculture is Nigeria’s most overlooked green gold. It is climate-smart, low-cost, inclusive, and scalable—and our youth are ready to drive it.”
Nwaogu emphasized that beekeeping offers high returns with low barriers to entry, especially for young people, women, and displaced communities. “No bees, no pollination. No pollination, no food. No food, no future,” he said, calling for massive perception change among farmers who still see bees as threats rather than allies in food production.
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Mukhtar Maiha echoed these sentiments, unveiling a bold, youth-centered national apiculture strategy focused on food security, sustainable livelihoods, and economic diversification.
“With the advent of this new Ministry, we are not just protecting pollinators—we are empowering young Nigerians and building a resilient agrifood system,” the Minister declared.
He enumerated the Ministry’s action plan to includes, Establishing modern apiaries across the country, Developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Nigeria’s honey to meet global benchmarks, Providing structural and technical support for apiculture entrepreneurs and
Deepening youth and women inclusion through training, mentorship, and access to finance
“Beekeeping is no longer a hobby. It’s a national development strategy,” the Minister said. “By investing in our youth, we are securing Nigeria’s food future—and unlocking billions in economic value.”
The event, co-hosted with YFAI and supported by the Nigeria Apiculture Platform (NAP), drew hundreds of young beekeepers, agripreneurs, researchers, and policymakers. Together, they examined solutions to threats facing Nigeria’s bees—from habitat loss and climate change to pesticide misuse and bush burning.
Both the Minister and Nwaogu emphasized that cross-sector partnerships will be key to scaling the industry. The Minister pledged continued collaboration with civil society, development partners, and the private sector to turn Nigeria into a global apiculture powerhouse.
As the celebrations drew to a close, the message from Nigeria’s youth and leaders was crystal clear: beekeeping isn’t just about honey. It’s about jobs, food, health, trade—and national transformation.
“Together,” said Nwaogu, “we can build a generation of bee-lievers—young Nigerians using apiculture to build wealth, heal the planet, and ‘bee’ the change.”