The WorldsTimes featured prince Dr Stephen Adejoro president of livestock industry foundation for Africa
Published: November 1, 2025
Source : Stephen Adejoro Dr
Dr. Stephen Adejoro Interview
Founded by Prince Dr. Stephen Adejoro, the Livestock Industry Foundation for Africa (LIFA) stands at the forefront of livestock transformation across the continent. Driven by a mission to empower rural farmers through innovation, research, and education, LIFA bridges the gap between science and practice—enhancing animal health, productivity, and sustainable livelihoods. Under Dr. Adejoro’s visionary leadership, the organization continues to redefine Africa’s livestock ecosystem by fostering resilience, promoting welfare, and building a food-secure future for generations to come.
Driving Purpose
We started the interview by asking, “What overarching mission drives LIFA, and how does the organization’s farmer-centric approach help empower rural livestock farmers across Africa?”
Dr. Stephen Adejoro replied, “The primary purpose of LIFA is to improve livestock productivity, food security, and sustainable livelihoods in Africa through capacity building, innovation, and knowledge-driven interventions. LIFA pledges to close the gap between research and practice by being at the forefront of all livestock health, nutrition, and management innovations so that they can have maximum impacts on the grassroots level.
The defining characteristics of LIFA is the farmer-centric approach. The organization engages the rural livestock farmers with programs starting from needs assessment to the design and implementation of the training. LIFA assesses farmers through a practical approach since they are closest to the challenges and by so doing, it makes its interventions more feasible, locally adaptable, and favourable in terms of the economy.
LIFA, through capacity-building programs, technology transfer, and collaborations with academic institutions and the private sector, equips farmers with the requisite knowledge and tools to improve the health of the animals and their productivity as well as, build their resilience to harsh market and climate conditions. This methodology puts the income of individual farmers on an upward trajectory, while community-level transformation in the regional food system becomes possible that is also resilient to crises.”
Knowledge Update Initiative
The Worlds Times: The Worlds Times: How does LIFA’s Knowledge Update on Poultry Health and Nutrition initiative enhance livestock productivity and spread sustainable practices among farmers?
Dr. Stephen Adejoro replied, “LIFA’s Knowledge Update on Poultry Health and Nutrition initiative is aimed at increasing livestock productivity by providing farmers, veterinarians, and industry stakeholders with up-to-date, science-based knowledge, and practical skills that improve animal health, feed efficiency and farm management.
This program is a blend of poultry science, animal health, and agribusiness experts who can take the leap from research to on-farm practices. Through on-farm training sessions, demonstrations, and farmer education workshops conducted in various African countries (Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Republic of Benin, Sierra Leone, Senegal, The Gambia, Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Cameroon, Liberia, Rwanda, Uganda, Cote d’Ivoire, etc), participants get practical insights into subjects like disease prevention, biosecurity, feed formulation, vaccination, and sustainable resource use.
The initiative includes promoting good husbandry practices and responsible input use, reducing production losses, improving flock performance, and ensuring safer, more sustainable poultry production. Besides, it also builds peer learning networks that enable farmers to exchange ideas and innovations that can be implemented in their communities.
The Knowledge Update program is a tool for farmer empowerment as it enables them to make informed decisions, adopt climate-smart and cost-effective practices, thereby contributing to a more resilient and profitable poultry industry in Africa.”
Research and Innovation Program
The Worlds Times: In what ways does the LIFA Livestock Research and Innovation Program contribute to animal welfare and sustainable farming in Africa?
Dr. Stephen Adejoro replied, “LIFA Livestock Research and Innovation Program makes a substantial contribution to animal welfare and sustainable farming in Africa by advocating data-driven practices, encouraging originality, and connecting the scientific research with the practical application in the field.
By way of shared projects with universities, research institutions, and industrial partners, LIFA supports the creation as well as the spread of the research that is locally relevant and focused on improving animal health, nutrition, housing, and disease management. This facilitates the interventions, in addition to being successful, also conforming to the animal welfare code of ethics.
One of the important features of this particular program is the focus put on the acceptance of the innovation conversion of laboratory discoveries and other technologies into the solutions that are convenient for farmers. Some of the instances of the program are the facilitation of better feeding methods, biosecurity practices, and climate-resilient farming technologies that alleviate the suffering caused by diseases and stress, which therefore, raise the productivity of the farm.
Using principles that are good for animals and objectives that promote sustainable farming simultaneously, LIFA makes it human and economically feasible to livestock production systems. The program works in tandem with the farmers by upgrading their skills through training and field demonstrations, thus they are empowered to handle the birds in a way that animal well-being is achieved, environmental impact is minimized, and productivity is enhanced on the long run.
Basically, the program is the main driver to LIFA’s quest for building the most sustainable, ethical, and resilient livestock sector that accomplishes the goal of farmers’ livelihoods and the care for the animals they rely on at the same time.”
Health Investigation Initiative
The Worlds Times: What role does the LIFA Livestock Health Investigation Initiative play in diagnosing and addressing emerging threats to animal health and productivity?
Dr. Stephen Adejoro replied, “LIFA Livestock Health Investigation Initiative is instrumental in the detection of, the diagnosis of, and the response to unintended consequences which in turn affect animal health and productivity all over Africa.
This initiative performs the function of an early-warning and response system, thus enabling the identification of disease outbreaks and production problems before they become severe. By means of the field surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, and data-driven investigations, LIFA collaborates with veterinarians, researchers, and local farmers to find out the primary sources of animal health problems.
In addition to diagnosis, the initiative is the main provider of the rapid knowledge transfer and capacity building through the training of farmers and animal health workers on disease prevention, biosecurity, and best management practices. Such a pre-emptive measure not only contributes to the control of the emerging diseases but also raises the level of community awareness and resilience towards the upcoming threats.
Through the combination of scientific research and practical field-level action, the Livestock Health Investigation Initiative is able to increase productivity, lower the death rate, and create sustainable and healthy livestock systems. As a result, it also helps to accomplish the goals that are part of the wider LIFA mission of ensuring animal health, promoting food security, and improving rural livelihoods in Africa.”
Technology and Digital Transformation
The Worlds Times: How does LIFA’s use of technology, mobile applications, and immediate support strengthen its ability to transform livelihoods in rural communities?
Dr. Stephen Adejoro replied, “LIFA implements technology along with digital platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube to boost its capacity to change lives in rural areas. These platforms enable the Foundation to deliver up-to-date information, training videos, and expert advisory messages directly to farmers, who are in remote locations, without any barriers.
Via WhatsApp groups, LIFA engages in live conversation with farmers and extension officers, thus facilitating the reporting of livestock health issues in a speedy manner, and instructing them on how to get immediate guidance. In addition, Facebook and YouTube serve as channels through which training materials are released, success stories are presented, and the best practices of animal health and nutrition are advocated.
LIFA’s digital outreach is supported by its on-the-ground presence, which ensures that farmers have not only received the information but also have the capacity to apply it. By blending technology with community participation, LIFA fills the gaps in knowledge, raises productivity, and advocates for sustainable climate-smart livestock farming throughout Africa.”
Impact and Recognition
The Worlds Times: What evidence exists of LIFA’s impact and recognition within rural communities and partner organizations across different African countries?
Dr. Stephen Adejoro replied, “LIFA has a strong evidence base of impact and a wide scope of recognition not only among the livestock community in rural areas but also among the partnering organizations spread over the whole African continent.
Year in year out, LIFA has been going to six different countries since 2022, and in each country, we have been visiting two different districts, where the most important livestock-raising activities are going on. LIFA has engaged over 11,000 farmers, veterinarians, and livestock value chain actors in diverse programs such as the Knowledge Update on Poultry Health and Nutrition LIFA. These trainings have encouraged the practice of animal health management, biosecurity, and sustainable production at the grassroots level.
Efforts by LIFA have been recognized from afar. A prestigious award that marks Dr. Stephen Adejoro’s leadership journey as well as LIFA’s contribution to livestock innovation and food security across Africa. Thus, Farm Foundation Innovator of the Year Award 2024, was given to the President of the Foundation, Dr. Stephen Adejoro.
In addition, LIFA has built strong partnerships with organisations such as Zoetis Foundation, universities, and private sector stakeholders as the evidence of their reputation, trust, and clear impact in the livestock ecosystem. The positive views of the farmers and the partnerships that continue to exist reflect the organization of LIFA that is now more and more known as a major player in the transformation of livestock and improvement of sustainable livelihoods in Africa.”
Leadership and Vision
Lastly we asked, “Who comprises LIFA’s leadership team, and how does their expertise support the organization’s mission in transforming the livestock industry in Africa?”
“LIFA’s leadership team is composed of experienced professionals, researchers, and industry experts who share a common vision of transforming Africa’s livestock industry through innovation, education, and sustainable practices.
At the forefront is Prince Dr. Stephen Adejoro, LIFA’s Founder and President, a renowned livestock consultant and astute leader with decades of experience in animal health, nutrition, and agribusiness development across Africa. His leadership and extensive field experience ensure that LIFA’s programs remain practical, farmer-focused, and scientifically grounded.
Supporting him is a dedicated team that includes technical advisors, veterinary specialists, nutritionists, and program coordinators who bring diverse expertise in animal welfare, research, training design, and policy engagement. Together, they ensure that every initiative directly contributes to improving productivity, animal health, and farmer livelihoods.
This multidisciplinary leadership structure enables LIFA to bridge the gap between research, innovation, and on-the-ground application, making the organization a respected catalyst for livestock transformation and sustainable food security across Africa.” Dr. Stephen Adejoro concluded
For more information about LIFA, Visit:
www.lifango.org
https://blog.lifango.org
Email: lifango48@gmail.com
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