The goal of increasing Nigeria’s protein sufficiency by increasing the percentage of soybeans in human and animal diets to 80% has been stated by the Nigeria Soybean Stakeholders Coalition.

The NSSC Chairman, Dr. Joe Dada, presented a plan to expand the use of soybeans in a number of industries and leverage their potential to close Nigeria’s nutritional gaps during the coalition’s inauguration in Lagos.

Dada declared, “We want to promote protein sufficiency in Nigeria,” reaffirming the coalition’s resolve to address the nation’s nutritional issues by using more soybeans.

We’re now at 60% utilisation for cattle, but we want to go to 90%. We want to go from the present 20 percent to 80 percent for human nourishment,” he said.

Dada emphasised that soybeans, which are sometimes disregarded as only animal feed, have a wide range of uses in foods for people of all ages.

He clarified, “There are more than 357 uses for soybeans, ranging from baby food to confections and even adult food.”

Dada claims that soybean oil has the potential to lower cholesterol, which makes it a useful tool for health promotion.

The NSSC intends to work with the federal government to overcome issues that have hampered previous attempts to produce soybeans, such as low crop yields and importation constraints.

Nigeria is recognised to have a protein shortage, which is why the government is interested, Dada claimed, adding that programs like the “one egg a day” program for kids highlight this need.

With the expectation that increasing soybean output will have a multiplier impact on employment, particularly in agriculture and processing, the government also sees the project as a means of creating jobs.

Foluso Alabi, the US Soybean Export Council’s Country Lead for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, said that soybeans might be a “game changer” in the fight against malnutrition in the nation.

“In the northern part of Nigeria, we have about 51% malnutrition,” Alabi said. “Soybeans can offer reasonably priced protein, enabling households across the country to consume soy-based products like soy milk and soy-garri.”

Alabi pointed out that one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, reaching zero hunger and improving food security, is in line with the coalition’s mission.

A healthy diet increases a person’s productivity. He continued by mentioning US developments in soybean-based biofuels as a potential future goal for Nigeria, saying, “Soybeans are dependable in providing energy and nutrition, and we are also looking to introduce them into industrial applications.”

The government supports the coalition’s goals, according to Dr. Chinyere Akujobi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, who was represented by Dr. Modupe Hambolu.

Akujobi underlined that soybean production will be crucial to achieving Nigeria’s nutritional and food security goals, saying, “We expect the NSSC to open up the soy value chain and to create more awareness among Nigerians about the benefits of soybeans.”

NSSC’s executive staff and trustees were introduced during the ceremony, and the coalition’s logo was unveiled as well.