Nutrition and agriculture experts have encouraged Nigerians to begin producing soybeans to curb a nutritious food source in the country

Speaking during the recent Protein Challenge Webinar Series 8, themed – The Nigerian Protein Deficiency Report 2020: Unpacking the Numbers, Exploring the Issues, Professor Adetunji Kehinde, Provost, College of Agriculture, Osun State University, said that the Nigerian Protein Deficiency Report 2020 indicates that the poor status of protein consumption in Nigeria remains the leading cause of protein deficiency in the country.

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According to Professor Kehinde, “widespread and aggressive production of soybeans across the country will contribute to efforts to curb the incidence of protein deficiency in the country.” Soybeans, he explained, is a rich source of protein and other valuable nutrients. It promotes growth, repairs worn-out cells in the body and improves general health.

He noted that the report revealed that affordability and availability are key factors that determine the quantity of dietary proteins consumed by Nigerians. Dr. Beatrice Oganah-Ikujenyo, a nutritionist and chief lecturer at the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education, Lagos, contended that continued reliance on a diet of staple foodstuffs that lack protein will undoubtedly result
in protein deficiency. Daily times reports

Dr. Oganah-Ikujenyo therefore called on the government to work to
increase awareness on various sources of protein available and affordable to the people and also pay attention to the growing of protein sources such as soya beans, beans and animal production.

Another expert, Dr Adepeju Adeniran, a public health expert and national co-chairperson, Women in Global Health, Nigeria, maintained that increasing the amount of plant protein-rich foods is imperative to reducing the level of protein deficiency in the nation.