**2.3 Self-funded and on-going research on genetic improvement of Nigerian chicken population at UNN Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB)**

It is with a deep sense of urgency and sorrowful heart that I cry out for assistance to TETFund innovation to save my genetically improved chicken population, a rare gene pool, that is being improved for six generations from 2018 till date from total wipe. I have lost 90% of this special chicken population, due to nonpayment of salaries, which has been my major source of fund for my genetically improved chicken.

It is highly commendable and interesting report that two on-going research teams dedicated to creating a breed of chicken were identified in the course of this study at UNN and Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB). These research team at the University of Nigeria Nsukka has doggedly embarked on self-funding of the genetic improvement of the Nigerian indigenous chicken by inbreeding, since 2018. The UNN genetic team is led by Dr. Ifemma Emmanuel-Ohagenyi has produced a rare gene pool that is being improved for six generations, while Prof A.O Adebambo led the genetic team of FUNAAB. The research team at Federal university of agriculture Abeokuta is driving the course of genetic improvement of local chicken through cross-breeding notwithstanding the general notion that breeding is the most expensive and technically advanced section of animal science. The resilience of these researchers has made remarkable progress in the improved populations.

This ongoing research is being self-sponsored by the grossly insufficient salary and my student's meager support. Six generations of the Nigerian chicken have been evaluated for growth and egg traits, genetic parameters, and genetic correlations. Information on estimated heritability and genetic correlation has informed the method of the selection, specifically index selection in this case. The superior individuals used as parents of the next generation have yielded genetic progress in meat and egg performance traits of the progeny during these generations. These researches at the University of Nigeria Nsukka Animal science farm has progressively increased the growth performance of the Nigerian chicken from 300, 400, 500 to 700 g at 8 weeks of age [27–29]. The egg traits of the inbred chicken have also witnessed genetic progress with a present egg weight of 60 g and egg number 210 egg per annum. The Ghrelin gene and Ovocalyxin gene polymorphism studies among Nigerian chickens have showed that the Nigerian chicken can been developed into broiler and layer breed through genomic selection [32]. The genetic progress recorded in the recent studies are indicative of the high predictive accuracy as well as trusted expertise of our adept research team and revealed that these fairly inbred chicken are not far from becoming a breed, if granted adequate local or international funding. **Figure 1** below shows the photo of the genetically improved chicken at UNN.

This work though driven by the passion to pencil Nigeria in the annals of history and save her the embarrassment of inability to boast of a standard breed of chicken

### **Figure 1.**

*Parents of Nigerian inbred chickens.* Source: *Parents of inbred chicken reared by Dr. Ohagenyi I.J., Okochi desire, Nwankwo favor, and Ijeoma Onyishi at the experimental poultry farm, University of Nigeria Nsukka.*

despite its superfluous local chicken resource is earnestly daunting. This research has witnessed several setbacks including the following:

	- ix. Low hatchability.
