Experts advocate for FX through pest museum, as entomologists hold 46th conference

As part of its contributions towards expansion of foreign exchange (FX) earnings and boosting the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria, experts in pest management have proposed setting up of pest zoo by the Federal Government.

Besides, they have lamented poor funding for various research organisations that have technical knowledge of the pests in order to harmonise their findings for productive use in the economy.

The call was made Wednesday at the ongoing 46th annual conference and 50th Golden Jubilee anniversary of the Entomological Society of Nigeria (ESN) at the University of Lagos, themed, ‘Urbanisation and Industrialisation: The Interfering Influence on Insects, Public Health and Environment.’

Addressing participants, Dan Enobakhare, a professor and president of the Society, said Nigeria was long overdue for a pest museum that could be a major source of tourist centre and an income generation platform.

Enobakhare noted that as much as insects damage food, destroy harvested crops in storage and often cause loss of entire crops, some insects and arthropods play beneficial roles using their biodiversity and ecosystem for benefits of mankind.

The university don said that given the diverse nature of pests in Nigeria and the need to maximise their benefits, ESN had always been at the forefront of establishing a Pest Museum in Nigeria.

He further said that ESN had acquired a large expanse of land but needed involvement of the Federal Government to establish a pest museum that would ultimately enhance Nigerian’s GDP.

“It is incredible to know that African Livestock for example succumb easily in their millions to insect and tick-borne diseases, which result in losses of milk, meat and traction power with huge yearly momentary losses. However, some insects and arthropods play beneficial roles using their biodiversity and ecosystem among others.

“Our society has been calling on the Federal Government to establish a pest’s zoo in Nigeria as a major tourist centre to earn foreign exchange for the Federal Government. This is done in many developed economies,” he said.

Corroborating Enobakhare, the chairperson, and ESN’s local organising committee for 2015 conference, Winifred Makanjuola, a professor, lamented the extent to which paucity of funds had reduced frequency of research on the pests.

Makanjula said pests had destroyed many agricultural products, yet some pests were friendly while some were good for human consumption.

In his keynote address, Olu Onakoya, a former chairman/managing director, Mobil Oil Nigeria plc, who spoke extensively on the menace of mosquitoes and the need for a continuous research into malaria prevention and control as long as malaria remained the greatest child killer in Nigeria and Africa, emphasised the relevance of ESN industry, calling for more collaboration between Town and Gown.

“From available data, 30 children would have died in Africa from malaria in the 30 minutes allotted me for this address. How do we improve the efficiency of active ingredients of insecticides, solvents and propellants and minimise their potential for damage to humans and development?” Onakoya said.