Stakeholders in poultry farming on Friday gathered to mark the World Egg Day to promote consumption of one-egg-per-day, saying cholesterol in egg prevents heart disease, breast cancer.
The stakeholders which include farmers, students, markets and egg merchants expressed the belief that an egg has many nutritional benefits like protein, vitamins, and cholesterol, which can reduce risks of heart diseases.
The programme was organised by the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) Lagos Chapter in collaboration with Novus Nigeria Ltd.
The theme of the programme, held in Lagos is “Benefits of Eating One Egg a Day by the Nigerian Child’’.
Speaking at the event, Oba Tijani Akinloye, the traditional ruler of Ajiran, highlighted the benefits of eating egg.
He, therefore, expressed his support for the government’s plan to introduce a meal per day in schools.
The Oba, who is also a poultry farmer, expressed the readiness of farmers in his area to produce eggs that would meet local demand for the one-egg-per-day project.
“Nigeria is blessed with the resources to provide a child with a plate of food, which will include an egg.
“There is no food with protein that does not have cholesterol.
“An egg in every diet is the road to good health that will keep the doctor away,’’ he said.
The royal father suggested four eggs per week for primary school pupils and six eggs per week for secondary students.
“That way, we are building a healthy Nigeria and poultry farmers are ready to work,’’ he said.
The monarch said that he has been taking an egg daily since 1982 when he started his poultry farm.
Also speaking, Dr Olajide Basorun, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, said that the state presently produces about 500,000 eggs daily.
According to him, the state has several poultry farms in Epe, Imota and Agbowa.
Basorun, who was represented Mr Taye Amore, said that the state was working hard to expand and increase egg production.
“We have realised the importance of egg consumption and that is why we are part of the programme of the Federal Government’s “one egg and meal per day’’ initiative.
“With the scarcity of egg presently, poultry farmers should take the advantage and expand their farms and do more businesses in egg production.
“This will promote food security and healthy living at the same time,’’ he said.
Dr Olawumi Funso, an agriculture expert, said that the cholesterol in egg was capable of reducing the cholesterol produces by the liver, which was dangerous to health.
“Eggs provide the solution to a healthy living; millions of Nigerian children are malnourished because they lack necessary nutrients.
“Egg is one of the most affordable solutions to problems associated with vitamins A, B2, B12, D, Folate, protein, selenium, choline and iodine.
“So, egg is an important vitamin pill for all ages both old and young,’’ Funso, who was senior Assistant to former Governor Babatunde Fashola on Agriculture, said.
The World Egg Day (WED) was initiated by the International Egg Commission (IEC) to promote nature’s vitamin pill, the egg.
Nigeria is one of seven African countries that celebrates WED, every second Friday in October.
