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The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) has empowered 50 unemployed youths and women in different aspects of fish farming to boost Nigeria’s local production in aquaculture.
The training and empowerment program which runs for five days is targeted ensuring that the country meets its target of achieving self-sufficiency in fish production.
According to NIMOR, the empowerment program is a constituency capital project by the House of Senate and House of Assembly and participants were selected across the country by both houses with 20 from the lower chamber and 30 from the senate. “We are conducting this empowerment program for the unemployed youths and women to make them self-employed and contribute to the food security in Nigeria”, Gbola Akande, CEO of NIMOR, said during the opening ceremony of the program.
“For five days participants would be seriously trained in the processing, production, marketing and value addition in aquaculture production. The training will include 30 per cent lecture and 70 per cent will be practical.
“Participants will also be monitored for five months after the training and after the five months period of monitoring, they should be able to produce enough fish. After the training participants will be given certificates which will help them to apply for opportunities”, Akande said.
The CEO also said that after the training the participants will be given starter packs in order for them to start their own fish businesses. The starter packs includes key inputs for fish production such as fish feeds, medication and equipment among others.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in the last five years shows that the country’s fish production is gaining traction as aquaculture production increased by 43 percent within the period.
Nigeria’s total annual fish demand is estimated at 3.5 million metric tons (MT), while the country produces only 1.1 million MT, leaving a gap of 2.4 million MT annually, according to data obtained from the country’s Agricultural Ministry.
Also speaking during the training, Patricia Amyanwu, director of research and coordinator of the program, NIMOR, said that the accommodation, food and transport allowance of the participants were being catered for by the government.
BUNMI BAILEY
