Soludo Commends ECOWAS For Training 200 Anambra Youths On Fish Production Business

By Uzo Ugwunze

Governor Chukwuma Soludo has commended the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for engaging 200 youths from Anambra State in the Training on Table Fish production business system.

Soludo gave the commendation during the induction of the 200 youths cum launching of the ECOWAS Youth Employability Program 2.0 in Anambra State, which took place at the ETF Building Auditorium, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam.

The Governor, who was represented by the Chairman of Anambra State Village Chairmen. Hon Kingsley Ozalagba, I thank the organizers and commend them for the initiative sponsoring our youths to train in the aquaculture business.

“Human capacity development is a priority for the Solution Government. Anambra State government has been prioritizing its investments in youths to better their lives. Some weeks ago, 8300 youths were empowered in different skills under the Second Batch of the 1 Youth 2 Skills.

” This very aquaculture program is another opportunity for young people who want to engage in fish production to acquire the needed skills.

“The trainees should take the training very seriously because in the today’s world, if you have nothing to offer, you will be in the back seat. They should be patient enough to learn all they can, and Anambra State is willing to give our own support. I thank Ecowas for engaging our Youths. For one to survive in the present world, you need a skill,” he said.

Speaking during the induction, the Coordinator of Taenprowiz Production Business System and Technology Partnership Center, Anambra State, and MD/CEO Fishery and Aquaculture Business Development Agency (FABDA), Mr Emeka Iloghalu, expressed gratitude for the support the agency is getting from the state government and ECOWAS in facilitating the program, which would alleviate youth restiveness and provide more jobs.

“We are here to launch and induct the training for 200 youths on Taenprowiz Production Business System and Technology. The Taenprowiz fish production business system and technology is a comprehensive business solution for the fish business. It is the key to commercialization of fish production.

“We have spent about two months together with the trainees, and at this point we are here to sensitize people, tell the world about this milestone.

“For those who are not part of this 200 and who missed out in the first batch of 150 trained last year, will still have more opportunities.

“After this training, we envisage that all of you being trained will engage in the fish business one way, or a combination of the three ways, in the fish production business.

“The three ways include: (1)to be a useful, effective, professional employee in the fish production business;(2) to be a cooperator, that is, a member of a fish production business co-operative from the point of proficiency not as a novice; (3) each of you should be able to evaluate and appreciate investments in fish production to know the one that is on track or not.

“I wish you the best. You have a bright future with all the support of my team in Anambra State and Ecowas. I am sure that you will not have any limit,” said Iloghalu.

Iloghalu lauded  Prof. Jude Obi’s team, which comprises the West African Secretariat of Ecological Organic Agriculture (WASEOA), for organising the training simultaneously in Benin Republic, Togo, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Nigeria, and the Association of  Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria.

In his address, President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Toure who was represented by Prof. Jude Obi lamented that over 75 percent of youths in the West African region are unemployed thereby making the region affected by low productivity and performance of economies in general and of particular Agro Sylvo Pastoral and Fisheries sector making it difficult to integrate young people into existing rigid farming systems.

Prof Jude Obi promised on behalf of WASEOA that the 10 best and most progressive trainees out of 1280 Youths undergoing fish production training in the six West African countries would be rewarded handsomely with special gifts.

“With this number of vibrant youths roaming the streets of West Africa, Anambra is doing well by making provisions for youth programs.

“ECOWAS is going to do more when the results of these programs we are facilitating are progressive,” he said.

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, COOU, Igbariam, Prof Kate Omenugh appreciated the Taenprowiz team and ECOWAS Commission for their efforts toward agriculture and food security, saying that COOU is deeply committed to achieving Zero Hunger in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

“The University’s Healthy Living Farm demonstrates this commitment as it promotes organic farming and sustainability while serving as a training ground for students, especially those in the Faculty of Agriculture”.

High point of the occasion was the induction of the 200 youths into the fish production business by Gbadamosi R. Oyewole, Coordinator, ECOWAS, WASEOA, Nigeria.