Regular consumption of eggs can curb child malnutrition — Experts

Experts in animal science and nutrition have urged Nigerian households to make eggs a regular part of their diets, identifying their rich nutritional content as a potential tool for tackling child malnutrition and stunted growth.

They also called on the government to subsidise poultry production inputs, including animal feed, to reduce production costs and improve access to eggs amid rising food prices.

The experts made the recommendations at a public enlightenment programme organised in Ilorin on Saturday by the Animal Science Association of Nigeria, Kwara State Branch, in collaboration with the Poultry Association of Nigeria, Kwara State Branch, to mark the 30th anniversary of World Egg Day.

Speaking at the event, a guest speaker, Victoria Chimezie, of the Department of Animal Production, University of Ilorin, said eggs contain essential nutrients required for children’s growth and development.

Chimezie, an animal geneticist, said the nutritional composition of eggs could help address deficiencies associated with poor physical development.

“We see the problem of stunting growth among children. You see the hospital filled with children that are malnourished. They are filled with all the essential amino acids, the non-essential amino acids, and apart from that, there are vitamins, there are minerals present in the egg as well”, she said.

Chimezie also challenged the perception that consuming eggs necessarily increased blood cholesterol, explaining that the presence of cholesterol in eggs did not automatically mean that an individual’s blood cholesterol level would rise.

“The fact that cholesterol is present in eggs doesn’t translate to the fact that the cholesterol in your blood will increase by taking an egg,” she added.

The Chairman of ASAN, Kwara State Branch, Samuel Akanbi, also urged Nigerians to incorporate eggs into their diets, citing their nutritional contributions to brain development, energy supply and general well-being.

Akanbi encouraged students to consume eggs regularly while giving a separate recommendation for adults.

“We are encouraging the students to eat two eggs per day; adults can also eat up to that, but the recommendation is one egg per day for adults,” he said.

He, however, warned consumers against eating spoiled eggs and urged poultry farmers to maintain proper biosecurity practices and use antibiotics responsibly to reduce disease risks.

Despite the nutritional benefits highlighted by the experts, the rising cost of eggs and other food items remains a concern for households, prompting calls for government intervention to ease production costs.

The Vice-Chairman of PAN, Kwara State Branch, Adedayo Gawati, said eggs remained a relatively accessible source of animal protein despite recent price increases.

“We are not saying eggs are affordable because the price has increased too, but what we are saying is that it is still the cheapest. Everything has gone up. We need to preach the value of eggs”, Gawati said.

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He argued that public enlightenment was necessary to help consumers better appreciate the nutritional importance of eggs and encourage healthier eating habits.

“I think our problem with eggs is more of the value we place on the eggs themselves. It is the right time for us to place value on eggs, to let people know that it extends life. It makes you live healthier,” he added.

Gawati also called for government support for poultry farmers, citing the increasing costs of day-old chicks, animal feed and other production inputs as major challenges facing the sector.

He said reducing the financial burden on farmers could help improve production and the availability of eggs to consumers.

Similarly, the representative of Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria, Mrs Olufunke Bolaji, urged the government and private sector to provide greater support for poultry farmers.

Bolaji advocated subsidies on animal feed and other production inputs, arguing that reducing farmers’ operating expenses could ultimately make eggs more affordable for households.

The programme, themed “The Mighty Egg: Protein that Powers and Protects,” brought together animal scientists, poultry farmers, students and other stakeholders to discuss egg nutrition, healthy consumption and challenges confronting poultry production.

Some participating students said the programme had improved their understanding of the nutritional benefits of eggs.

Blessing Adeogun of Glory Seed High School, Ilorin, said she learnt that eggs could provide energy and help students maintain concentration.

Another participant, Maryam Abdulakeem of Ansar-Ud-Deen Islamic Senior Secondary School, Ogbondoroko, said the programme had broadened her knowledge of eggs as a source of protein.

The event also featured goodwill messages from the Kwara State Ministries of Livestock Development and Youth Development, as well as the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute.

The stakeholders called for sustained nutrition education, improved poultry production practices and government support to make eggs more accessible to Nigerian households.