IBADAN/Nigeria: The Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, (FCAHPT), Ibadan, on Friday distributed crates of eggs to some schools and orphanages in the city.
Speaking on the sideline of the distribution, Dr Samuel Amusan, the FCAHPT Chairman of the World Egg Day, said that no fewer than 70 crates of eggs were distributed to: Oluyole Community Grammar School, United Missionary Comprehensive College, King Kids Orphanage home Fodasis and His Heritage Home, Agoro.
He said the distribution was part of its activities to mark the 2021 World Egg Day and to sensitise people, especially the young ones, to the importance of egg and its consumption.
According to Amusan, Oct. 8 is set aside annually to celebrate the unique potential and significances of eggs.
Also, the FCAHPT Deputy Provost, Admin, Dr Funmilayo Ogunleke, said that every egg contains all the essential Amino acids needed for growth, especially by children.
Ogunleke, also an animal scientist, added that animal sources of protein such as eggs have balanced Amino acids profile for adults, children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
She said that the consumption of eggs daily by children would enhance all their developmental processes, from pre-puberty to post-puberty stage.
“All children should be given at least one egg a day, it is good for their brains and will enhance perfect growth in them because it has better protein source than meat, fish and others.
“The best way to consume eggs is when it is half boiled because the nutrients will be wholly present for digestion.
“However, it is also good to be fried, used for pasteries, baking, toasting, so parents should find the best way their children prefer it and make sure they eat it daily.’’
Ogunleke also said that pregnant women needed eggs for their wellbeing and proper development of the foetus while breastfeeding mothers would need it so that they and their babies would be healthy.
“Old people should also cultivate the habit of eating eggs to have enough nutrients to sustain them, people should ignore the saying that eggs are meant only for children,” she said.
Ogunleke also advised people not to store eggs in their shelves for more than two weeks to retain their freshness.
“Buy the quantity of eggs you can eat in two weeks maximum, you can buy another set when you have finished consuming the first set; they won’t be fresh again any time after two weeks,” she said.
She also urged government at all levels to find a way to ensure provision of eggs to schools, especially, those in the rural areas.
“Children in remote places will not have the means to eat eggs daily due to the cost, so providing it for them through school feeding programmes will be of great help,” she said.
