By Editor
The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Ekiti State chapter, has made a strong appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji as well as other stakeholders on the need for the re-introduction of homegrown school feeding program in the country against the backdrop of high cost of day-old chicks in the Country.
The leaders of the association appealed for continuous support for all poultry farmers in the country especially in Ekiti State for greater productivity in their busineses.
Speaking with newsmen at Ijero-Ekiti, l headquarters of Ijero Local Government, the chairman of the association, Comrade Alonge Oluwasetemi said it was obvious that members of the association in Ekiti are in dire need of more government intervention considering the economic situation in the country.
He commended President Tinubu and Governor Oyebanji for their various interventions in the association as major incentives to their business within all the sixteen local governments in the state.
PAN used the occasion to appeal to Governor Oyebanji to reconsider the Ekiti state school feeding program with eggs on the menu to keep the children in school nourished and also to boost the economy of the poultry industry across the state.
The association held its annual World Egg day program in a unique manner this year as it embarked on sensitizing residents while sharing eggs to people in no less than ten local government areas of the state amidst pomp and glamour with the theme: “Protein That Powers And Protects”,.
The Chairman in his address says
“Without mincing words, our association has benefited a lot under the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji and this indeed made us to give our total support during his gubernatorial election in the state because we believed in his administration.
Oluwasetemi charged his members to continue to be good ambassadors of farmers and use their expertise in helping the governor deliver on his promise to deliver shared prosperity to Ekiti people.
The association l emphasizes on the importance of eating an egg daily, at least one per person noting that an egg eaten, builds stronger body, boosts brain function, supports good vision, strengthens immunity and also promotes heart health.
According to the chairman, the event was hosted by various zones of the association in different local government areas where various schools, hospitals, markets, special schools were visited and egg donations were made including street and digital campaigns were also made to educate citizens on healthy consumption of eggs.
Comrade Alonge stated that people should cultivate the habit of eating eggs as a healthier choice of protein. He charged the hardworking poultry farmers to work relentlessly regardless of so many challenging factors facing the industry.
“We distributed over 1500 crates of eggs freely donated by the members of our association across the aforementioned local government areas within the state, and we wish to create more awareness on the importance of egg consumption and to encourage poultry farmers as we all know that poultry production makes a significant contribution to Nigeria’s agricultural economy through egg and meat production, employment, income generation and the supply of raw materials to the food and livestock industries”.
Some of the local government zones that participated in the annual event includes; Ado LG, Ijero, Ikere, Ayekire LCDA, Ise/Orun, Ekiti West, Emure, Ekiti East, Ido/Osi
Moba and Ikole local government respectively.
Other stakeholders who spoke with journalists in a separate interview includes; the PAN chairman Ado-Ekiti Zone Farmer Familusi Olaoluwa, his Vice; Mrs Olootu Mary Bosede and the Association PRO, Farmer Francis Adeyemi.
They observed that adequate security of farmers on the farms needs to be properly looked into.
They also pledged for the continuous support of the association for President Bola Tinubu and the Ekiti State Governor Boidun Oyebanji so as to get more dividends of democracy for their members across length and breath of the state.
“We also congratulate the Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji over his re-election bid in office and for his immense support towards poultry farmers in the state. We urged Mr Governor to please reconsider the Ekiti state school feeding program with eggs on the menu to keep our children in school nourished and also to boost the economy of our poultry industry”, Alonge submitted.
