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 best type of coconuts in
worldwide.
Coconut. Twitter photo
“This means that we have something we can really
show to the world that will build and improve our
daily living,’’ siad 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 multipurpose 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 journalists on Saturday in Abuja that
government needed to have clear policies that will
encourage investments in coconut businesses.
According to the professor of phytomedicine,
government should support investors in the coconut
sector.
Brazil and other countries, he argued, have 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 train
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 range of
products that will help the people,”Idu said.
Newsmen report that Sept. 2 is been designated
Coconut Day by the Asian and Pacific Coconut
Community (APCC) with headquartered at Jakarta,
Indonesia.
The annual celebration is aimed at creating an
awareness about the importance of the coconut and
its potentials.
NAN
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