Professor Eunice Folake Ojo, the first female professor in the Animal Production Department at the University of Ilorin, has made a groundbreaking contribution to poultry research in Nigeria. During her 268th inaugural lecture at the university’s main auditorium, Professor Ojo presented her significant findings on the enhancement of local poultry breeds, specifically the Fulani Ecotype chicken, to boost egg production and improve bird plumage.
In her lecture, Professor Ojo explained how her research had led to the successful crossbreeding of Fulani Ecotype chickens with exotic Dominant Black strains. The result was the creation of auto-sex chicks that not only show distinctive sexual dimorphism but also outperform their local counterparts in egg production.
“I’ve worked with Fulani Ecotype male lines (FEXDB) and crossed them with Hubbard broiler strains. The offspring produced have greater body weight than the local chicken breeds,” she said, highlighting the benefits of her research for local poultry farming.
Professor Ojo also raised concerns about the endangered status of Nigeria’s indigenous poultry species, which she believes are at risk of being lost if not properly conserved. She called for the creation of a comprehensive database to support the conservation of these valuable genetic resources, stressing the need to preserve the unique genetic traits of local poultry breeds, which hold significant cultural, nutritional, and medicinal value.
She noted that improving Nigeria’s poultry ecotypes should be a national priority, urging breeders and geneticists to focus on preserving rare traits such as distinct plumage and comb types. “The genetic material of these indigenous breeds must be protected for future generations,” she added.
Professor Ojo’s research not only provides valuable insights for poultry breeders and geneticists but also offers important contributions to Nigeria’s efforts to improve animal protein production in response to the needs of its growing population.
Her work has already laid the foundation for developing new poultry lines that can enhance local food production while conserving Nigeria’s rich poultry heritage.
