The Nigeria Soybean Stakeholders Coalition (NSSC) has set an ambitious target to enhance the country’s protein sufficiency by increasing soybean usage in both livestock and human diets to 80 percent.
At the coalition’s inauguration in Lagos, Chairman Dr. Joe Dada unveiled a comprehensive vision to elevate soybean’s role across various sectors, emphasizing its potential to bridge nutritional gaps in Nigeria. “We want to promote protein sufficiency in Nigeria,” Dada declared, highlighting the coalition’s dedication to tackling the nation’s nutritional challenges through greater incorporation of soybeans.
Currently, soybean usage in livestock feeds is at 60 percent, with plans to escalate that figure to 90 percent. In human nutrition, the goal is to raise consumption from a mere 20 percent to an ambitious 80 percent. Dada noted that soybeans, frequently dismissed as just livestock feed, possess extensive applications in food products suitable for all ages. “Soybeans have over 357 uses, from baby food to confectioneries and even adult food,” he explained.
He added that soybean oil could play a significant role in lowering cholesterol, reinforcing its value in promoting health. The NSSC intends to partner with the federal government to tackle obstacles in soybean production, such as low crop yields and challenges related to importation, which have historically impeded progress.
“The government is interested because there’s a known protein deficiency in Nigeria,” Dada remarked, referencing initiatives like the ‘one egg a day’ program for schoolchildren that underscore the urgent need for improved nutrition.
Additionally, the government views the initiative as a potential avenue for job creation, anticipating that increased soybean production will have a cascading effect on employment opportunities, particularly in agriculture and processing.
Foluso Alabi, the Country Lead of the US Soybean Export Council for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, described soybean as a potential “game changer” in combating malnutrition. “We have about 51 percent malnutrition in the northern part of Nigeria,” Alabi noted. “Soybean can provide affordable protein, bringing soy-based foods like soy milk and soy-garri to households nationwide.”
Alabi emphasized that the coalition’s objectives align with the federal government’s aim to enhance food security and achieve zero hunger, one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. “When a person is well-fed, they are more productive,” he added. He also mentioned plans to introduce soybeans into industrial applications, pointing to advancements in soybean-based biofuels in the US as a future target for Nigeria.
Dr. Chinyere Akujobi, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, represented by Dr. Modupe Hambolu, expressed governmental support for the coalition’s goals. “We expect the NSSC to open up the soy value chain and to create more awareness among Nigerians about the benefits of soybeans,” she declared, underscoring that soybean production is critical for addressing Nigeria’s nutritional and food security challenges.
The event concluded with the induction of the NSSC’s trustees and executive team, along with the unveiling of the coalition’s logo.
