Prof. Chidi Akunne, Head, Zoology Department, NAU and Coordinator of the centre, made the call on Thursday, in Awka, to mark the 2021 World Bee Day.

World Bee Day is celebrated globally on May 20 to recognise and acknowledge the positive impact that bees and other pollinators have on the ecosystem

This year’s commemoration had the theme: `Bee Engaged – Build Back Better for Bees’.

Akunne said that the centre would train and produce more beekeepers as well as engage in massive production of natural honey to meet the high demand in the country.

“There is high demand for natural honey by households, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and beverage industries that use different grades of honey for production.

“As a country, we spend millions of Naira to import honey from China, Tanzania, India, Canada and other honey-producing countries.

“But we can address these problems if the government at all levels can fund or invest in the Honeybee research centre. High technology equipment is required for the centre to operate optimally.

“It is a resource and research centre that should be funded because it can massively produce products such as honey, pollen, wax, propolis and royal jelly locally,’’ he said.

Akunne described bees as small social insects that were important in the pollination of crops which results in better and increase in crop yields and nutrition.

According to him, bees are vital to human survival, they produce honey that is medicinal with about 100 nutritional properties.

“Nigeria’s potential in Beekeeping is yet to be explored, and we are marking this event today to create the awareness,’’ he said.

Also speaking, Mr Benjamin Ononye, Manager at the centre, highlighted ignorance, bush burning and honey theft as some of the challenges of beekeeping.(NAN)

– May 20, 2021 @ 14:59 GMT