As the world celebrates World Coconut Day, Prof. MacDonald Idu, has underscored the benefits of Coconut, the “Tree of life’’, including serving as mosquito repeller. He said that the second name for coconut oil is “Tree of Life” maintaining that all parts of the fruit is useful with Nigeria having the best type of coconuts in worldwide.
“This means that we have something we can really show to the world that will build and improve our daily living,’’ said Idu of the department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology of the University of Benin.
“There are many things that the coconut can do. It serves as food and medicine.
Coconut oil is a multi purpose oil; there is about 200 uses of coconuts. “You can use it to soften your skin, reduce sugar level, prevent wrinkles, premature grey hair and hair lost.
You can rub on your body to prevent mosquito bite and many other uses.
called on Nigeria to formulate policies that will attract investment in coconuts.
The professor called on Nigeria to formulate policies that will attract investment in coconuts.
Idu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abuja that government needed to have clear policies that will encourage investments in coconut businesses.
According to the professor of Phytomedicine, the government should support investors in the coconut sector.
Brazil and other countries, he argued, have a huge investment in coconut businesses.
“Today, Nigerians are feasting on coconuts from Cotonou, Ghana and other countries which to me is ridiculous.
“We have the shores and everything in this country to grow the plant. We also have research institutes with coconut as one of their mandates.
“The government can put in money into the institutes and their research and let it blossom and generate revenue for the country.
“They can also fund small scale private sector investors in coconuts. This will generate employment and people taking off the streets,” Idu said.
The Don also stressed that investors could be trained on how to produce and package their coconuts related products properly and export them to other countries.
“Government should formulate policies that will encourage investment in coconut to produce a range of products that will help the people,” Idu said.
NAN reports that Sept. 2 is been designated Coconut Day by the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) with headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The annual celebration is aimed at creating awareness about the importance of the coconut and its potentials.
