The Pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia State, Prof. Placid Njoku,  says a comprehensive treatment of livestock will enhance the country’s economic advancement.
Njoku, who was also  the pioneer President of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS) said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, yesterday.
“Nigerians must recognise that livestock is an  important economic resource; and must do to its animals as it does to its humans and other sectors of the economy.
“My recommendation therefore is that when we do so much for crops, we must also look in the direction of animals, animal production, animal husbandry and comprehensive treatment of the livestock sector.
“Looking at issues of productivity, issues of expanding production, increasing the needs of our people to eat animal protein.
“Across the world, it is clearly stated that those countries that have the highest levels of animal production eat the best meat, have the best economy, and they are also the tallest across the world.
“So you can see therefore that it is important to develop our animal resources to enable us to very effectively grow our people, their well being and the economy of Nigeria,‘’ he said.
The professor of animal science stressed the need for Nigeria to commence implementation of the Global Action Plan of Genetic Resources.
Our source gathered that Nigeria signed along other 109 nations in Switzerland in 2007, the Global Plan of Action on Genetic Resources; but is yet to implement its own.
It is the outcome of a country-driven process of reporting, analysis and discussion, which resulted in the preparation of the state of the world’s Animal Genetic Resources for food and agriculture.
It is the first comprehensive global assessment of livestock diversity and its management.
Speaking on the importance of livestock to individual families, Njoku advised that every family must keep at least a small number of livestock that could be used as a source of meat or milk.
“All stakeholders must recognise the importance of the livestock industry and at the base of the livestock industry we have the genetic resources.
“All stakeholders in private and government sector must strongly support research to improve the productivity of our animals; lastly, every Nigerian family should have a small livestock farm.
“You must have some chickens running around the house that you feed with the remnants you cannot eat; you don’t even have to spend a lot of money doing it.
“Every family that has the space should have some sheep, goat or cattle to produce milk or meat for them.’’
Njoku said that this would improve the total level of production of meat and dairy products in the country, while improving the quality of the life of Nigerians even at the rural base of the country.