The U.S. mission to Nigeria has hosted a speaker programme as part of the Freedom 250 initiative, bringing Gregg BeVier, an expert in livestock development, to speak to Nigerian agribusiness leaders and government officials.  

This programme (August 10-13, 2026) underscored America’s priority of increasing two-way trade and investment opportunities between the U.S. and Nigeria.

The initiative featured three complementary events.

In Abuja, Mr DrBeVier spoke at the All-Africa Conference on Animal Agriculture, with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agriculture Service, and engaged government officials from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the Livestock Reforms and Implementation Committee to discuss how American private-sector agricultural partnerships can drive livestock development.  

Mr BeVier connected with audiences across the 30 American Spaces in Nigeria to discuss opportunities for youth to engage in livestock productivity improvements.  

He also joined several other U.S. animal husbandry companies at the U.S.-Nigeria Livestock and Feed Connect event, a curated business-to-business event bringing American and Nigerian livestock businesses together to discuss potential partnerships.

This programme was designed to advance U.S. prosperity by supporting a more favourable business climate in Nigeria, focusing on the agricultural sector as part of the flagship Commercial and Investment Partnership, according to a statement on Friday by the American embassy.

The programme builds on longstanding exchange initiatives, including the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), and will create new networks for future engagement, including potential Fulbright and IVLP opportunities focused on agricultural finance and trade.

Mr BeVier has over 37 years of experience as a business executive. He is the COO of ST Genetics and the CEO of Fast Genetics. Most recently, he managed the livestock portfolio at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as a senior program officer.  

Before the foundation, he held various positions, including president of PIC, Sr. VP of Livestock Operations for Premium Standard Farms, and head of the Production Animal Global Enterprise for Merial. Mr BeVier holds a BS in Agriculture Science, an MS in Animal Science, a DVM, and an MBA, all from the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.  

In 2004, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine. He has been a lifetime member of the American Veterinary Medicine Association and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians.