Nutritionists urge parents to prioritize eggs over sugary snacks for child development

Nigeria's nutrition experts are making a simple, urgent argument: parents spending money on biscuits, sweets, and sugary drinks should buy eggs instead. The case they're building is rooted in numbers that carry real weight. Across the country, 12.3 million children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition. Of those, 300,000 face immediate risk of death. Nigeria ranks second globally in the burden of stunted children—a measure of how malnutrition arrests physical and cognitive development in the young. Against this backdrop, a single egg a day emerges not as luxury but as intervention.

The appeal to parents comes as food inflation has made even basic nutrition harder to afford. Egg prices have climbed steeply since late 2023, rising from around 2,600 naira per crate to between 5,000 and 6,500 naira today. A single egg now costs between 200 and 300 naira. Yet eggs remain among the cheapest sources of complete protein available—a fact that makes the nutritionists' argument both practical and pointed. The money diverted from processed snacks and sweetened beverages could fund something far more consequential for a child's body and brain.

Professor Beatrice Ogunba, a maternal and child nutrition specialist at Obafemi Awolowo University, laid out what an egg actually delivers. High-quality protein, yes, but also choline, healthy fats, vitamins A, D, and B12, riboflavin, and minerals including iron, zinc, selenium, and iodine. These aren't abstract nutrients. They build strong bones and teeth. They fuel brain development. They strengthen immunity and protect vision. When a child eats a well-cooked egg regularly as part of a varied diet, the effects compound: healthier weight gain, sharper cognitive development, reduced risk of protein and micronutrient deficiency, improved overall diet quality.

The timing of egg introduction matters. For babies beginning complementary feeding at six to eight months, eggs can be introduced gradually—mashed or blended into daily pap in small amounts to gauge tolerance. Between nine and twenty-three months, as nutritional demands spike during rapid toddler growth, an egg daily becomes a reliable anchor. For children two to five years old, one egg per day fits naturally into a balanced diet, providing dense energy and nourishment to match their active days. James Oloyede, a registered dietitian nutritionist and former director of nutrition services in Osun State, offered slightly different guidance: children under three can safely consume up to four eggs weekly, while older children can manage one daily, scaling to two as they grow and protein needs increase.

The nutritionists are careful to frame eggs not as a silver bullet but as a cornerstone. Eggs should anchor a varied, well-balanced diet paired with appropriate infant and young child feeding practices. Sugar-sweetened beverages, by contrast, offer little nutritional benefit while raising risks of tooth decay, unhealthy weight gain, and poor eating habits that persist into adulthood. The reallocation is not complicated: redirect the money spent on these empty calories toward nutrient density.

One practical caution runs through the expert guidance: eggs must be thoroughly cooked to minimize foodborne illness risk in young children. Beyond that, the message is consistent and clear. In a country where malnutrition remains a violation of children's rights—a barrier to their ability to grow, learn, develop, and reach their potential—eggs represent an accessible, affordable tool for prevention. The challenge now is whether rising prices will allow that tool to remain within reach for the families who need it most.