by Azubuike Azikiwe
A professor has advised Nigerians to embrace insects as an alternative to ‘bush meat’, a carrier of the Ebola virus disease.
Professor Chukwunenye Anene, Dean, Faculty of Natural Sciences in Anambra State University, said ‘insects’ are an alternative rich sources of protein.
Anene dished out the counsel on Tuesday, 16 September, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Igbariam near Onitsha, Anambra.
According to the university don, targeted research would make it possible to convert and harness some insects to produce rich protein for a very large population.
He said, “Insects should no longer be called pests but treated fairly as food substances and alternative source of protein. And where the regular protein from meat is been jettisoned by many, insect could as well replace these sources of protein for man.”
Anene added, “So there is a need for coordinated research in this direction since it had been found out that some insects, which are helpful to man, have high protein content.”
He implored humans to desist from the indiscriminate killing of insects, saying they play a vital role in the existence of man.
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