Selected Ogun women empowered on added value of fish farming

Committed to alleviating poverty among people in popular areas, the Federal College of Wildlife Management (New Bussa, Niger State) and the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) have collaborated with the Senator representing the Ogun West Senatorial District, Chief Tolu Odebiyi to empower a select group of 22 rural men and women in fish production and processing in the Iboro community.

Beneficiaries were guided in the ethical handling, processing, packaging and marking of fish, as well as fish marketing and record keeping.

Speaking at the training/empowerment programme, the Provost of the College, Dr. T. A. Ampitan, said the program on fish farming and value addition is critical for Nigeria as a nation, adding that fish farming plays a very important role in ensuring food security, as a rich source of protein in household diets.

According to the Provost of the College, who was represented by Dr Mathias Umunna at the event, he said it is embarrassing that Nigeria is still importing fish for local consumption despite the nation's huge potential in fisheries and aquaculture.

“Fish farming is a livelihood providing sustainable income to those involved in the practice. It has a relatively short gestation period thus providing quick returns. to reverse the rural-urban youth exodus that is prevalent in the country today Fish is the most sought-after animal protein due to its general acceptability, affordability and health benefits, which creates a huge demand for this one,” he said.

He urged participants to take the skills learned seriously as a unique opportunity to eradicate poverty and ensure secure and sustainable livelihoods. He also advised them to use the acquired knowledge and skills to start a business in the field of fish farming with the aim of growing it into a big profitable business in the near future.

Dr. Umunna encouraged participants to explore various ways to be gainfully employed along the aquaculture value chain, such as fish processing, feed marketing, farming, fish production, etc. fry, etc.

Also speaking, the senator representing the senatorial district of Ogun West, Chief Tolu Odebiyi, represented by Hon. Kolajo Owolabi, said the legislator saw fit to give his people the opportunity to be employers of labor instead of becoming job seekers, adding that he was about to reduce the number of unemployed and improve their income.

"The construction of a fish processing hall/house including an abattoir and a smoking oven, in Yewa North Local Government in Ogun State, which started in 2020, is now fully completed and commissioned by Senator Tolu Odebiyi. The project was commendable and timely. The project began to bring significant growth and development to the people of the community by training and empowering 22 indigenous people from the Iboro community in the manipulation, transformation, packaging and marking of fish, as well as fish marketing and record keeping.This is aimed at alleviating poverty among the population.”

The Managing Director of Consulting Firm Magic Touch Business Solution, Kwara State, Ms Olukemi Olusola, represented by Mr Bamidele Nathanael, said that trainees should see themselves as trainers in training for the benefit of 'other people.

He also said that entrepreneurship development training has been launched for people who work in the fishing sector or intend to own and run a sustainable fish processing business.< /p>

ALSO READ FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE