Have you ever seen a featherless-chicken before? Imagine staring at one right here on UNAAB Campus. This is not a fiction.

A featherless-chicken, all the way from Israel will be on display “live and direct” at the Julius Amioba Okojie Lecture Theatre II, of the University, courtesy of the World Poultry Science Association, Nigeria Branch.

The President of the Association, who also doubles as the Dean of the University’s College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, Professor (Mrs.) Daisy Eruvbetine, dropped the hint at a Press Conference, heralding the African International Poultry Summit, holding from February 20 – 24, 2011 at the University.

According to her, the highlight of the 4-Day Summit, which has as its theme, “Climate Change: Implications for Poultry Production in Africa”, is going to be the display of a featherless-broiler at the venue.
Shedding more light on the agricultural and economic importance of such species of bird to the Nigerian poultry industry, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the Summit, Professor Okanlawon Onagbesan and Secretary of the Association, Dr. Adeboye Fafiolu, respectively, said the featherless-broiler was immunized against the heat and stress that naturally kill the Nigerian specie, popularly known as Naked-Neck.

They both stressed that importation of the bird would help to encourage poultry farmers in the breeding of featherless-chicken that are resistant to heat and stress.

The National Chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Arch. Ibrahim Kabir, will deliver a Keynote Address at the Summit, while the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, is the Chief Host.

Guest Speakers expected at the Summit includes Dr. Rob Pym (Australia), Dr. Victor Olori (UK), Paul Hocking (UK) Paul Iji (Australia) Jacob Tona (Togo) and Thomas Kauda (Kenya).