Protein Challenge is the tag of The Nigeria Protein Awareness Campaign, a Protein Pull media campaign supported by the United States Soybean Export Council (USSEC) and other partners to create awareness about the prevalence, status and impact of protein deficiency in Nigeria.
Protein is widely regarded as an essential building block of life. This is not surprising, as it is found in literally every cell of the body. It is a macro-nutrient, that is one of the three nutrients found in food that the body needs in large amounts. The other two are carbohydrates and fat.
Protein is an important ingredient used to build, maintain and repair body tissues and muscles.
Some common sources include chicken, beef, lamb and fish, and legumes like beans, soy and lentils.
When people do not get adequate amounts of protein from their diet, it leads to protein deficiency which is today a major cause of malnutrition, especially among children.
In Nigeria, protein deficiency poses not only a major health problem, but also an economic and a social burden. It is the most important risk factor for illness and death, with millions of pregnant women and young children particularly affected.
The goal is to encourage and indeed help Nigerians from all walks of life to embrace regular consumption of proteins regardless of the source – ALL protein is good protein!
The campaign aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 – Zero Hunger – which seeks to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
