Poultry sector holds key to food security, wealth creation, says PAN
The Poultry Association of Nigeria, PAN, has identified the poultry industry as one of the fastest pathways to achieving food security, creating jobs and generating wealth in Nigeria.
National Vice-President, South-East Region of PAN, Mr Izuolisa Onu, stated this yesterday at the opening ceremony of the two-day Eastern International Poultry Summit, EIPS, 2026, holding in Enugu.
Onu, who is also Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, described the summit, themed “From the Farm to Market: Scaling Nigeria’s Poultry Trade and Investment,” as the biggest poultry exhibition in the South-East.
According to him, the theme represents a call to action aimed at strengthening the entire poultry value chain and ensuring that production is effectively linked to the market.
He said: “Farm to market is a call to action; it is about closing the loop.
“This is a value chain that employs hundreds of thousands of Nigerians, ensures food security and grows our agro-GDP astronomically.”
The PAN leader, however, expressed concern over some of the challenges confronting the industry, including the rising cost of feed and day-old chicks, weak cold-chain logistics and limited access to finance.
Onu said the summit had attracted poultry farmers, industry experts and exhibitors from across the South-East and other parts of the country to explore opportunities for investment, expansion and sustainable development of the sector.
Speaking at the event, the Zonal Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Enugu, Dr Benjamin Kuja, described the summit as timely and significant to the development of Nigeria’s livestock industry.
Kuja said the establishment of a full-fledged Ministry of Livestock Development demonstrated President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to harnessing the enormous potential of the sector.
He described livestock as “another oil for Nigeria,” expressing optimism that its economic potential would become increasingly evident in the years ahead.
Also speaking, Dr Jonathan Ossai, who represented the Enugu State Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Mr Patrick Ubru, said the state government had accorded priority to livestock development.
Ossai said Governor Peter Mbah was committed to partnering with PAN and other stakeholders to promote the growth and development of poultry and other livestock businesses in the state.
In his remarks, the Executive Director, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development, South-East Development Commission, SEDC, Dr Cliff Ogbede, said agro-industrialisation was central to the commission’s mandate.
Ogbede pledged the commission’s partnership with PAN to create employment opportunities and expand the poultry industry across the South-East.
Highlights of the opening ceremony included exhibitions by various poultry companies showcasing their products, technologies and services.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
