The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta – mni, has once again reiterated the readiness of her Ministry to partner with Non-Governmental Organizations, Cooperate Bodies and private individuals willing to empower and develop the Nigerian Youth.
2. Mrs. Jimeta gave this indication in her office recently when she received some executive members of the Poultry Association of Nigeria, led by its President – Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, who came to explore possible areas of partnership with the Ministry, as part of activities lined up by the Association to mark the 2015 World Egg Day.
3. The Permanent Secretary used the occasion to commend the Association for the public enlightenment it is carrying out in partnership with NAFDAC on possible danger involved in eating imported frozen chicken preserved with dangerous chemicals and assured the delegation of the Ministry’s readiness to partner with them in the area of entrepreneurial development and capacity building for our Youth.
4. To this end, a Joint Committee with representatives from the Ministry and the Association was set up to fashion out how best to assist interested youth desirous of going into the poultry industry to make a living; as a strategy of reducing youth unemployment in the county as well as increase egg production that is widely acknowledged as one of the richest source of protein.
5. Mrs. Jimeta also stated that aside from nutritional value of eggs; Poetry industry presents a viable opportunity for the teeming unemployed Nigerian Youth to be self-employed as well as become potential employers of labour.
6. She opined that the initiative if successful, is capable of providing a win-win solution in increasing nutrition and reduce unemployment.
7. Earlier, the National President of the Association, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan has explained that the objective of their visit was to sensitise the Ministry and Nigerians on the event of the 2015 World Egg Day Celebration with the theme “An Egg a Day for the Nigerian Child”.
8. Dr. Oduntan used the occasion to enumerate the different benefits derived through eating eggs. According to him, an egg for breakfast assists dieters to lose weight, prevents skin rashes, and keeps eyes, skin, hair, bones and brain healthy. He added that apart from breast milk, egg has the highest protein and nutrient value.
9. He appealed for government special assistance for the industry because the current 25% interest rate being charged by commercial banks has been a great drawback and disincentive to the optimum growth of the industry.
10. He also said that Nigerian poultry industry if properly nurtured is capable of producing one million eggs per day and generate about N220 billion annually.
ToluMakinde
Head of Press & Public Relations Unit
