By Ovat Abeng
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has commenced training of 150 youths on table-fish production business in Anambra State.
The flagged off ceremony took place at the Anambra State Fisheries and Aquaculture Business Development Agency (FABDA) conference hall, along Enugu-Onitsha highway Awka, over the weekend.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the event, Mr Emeka Martins Iloghalu, the Managing Director, Anambra State Fisheries and Aquaculture Business Development Agency (FABDA) and the programme coordinator in the state, said the training is expected to last for eight weeks and a total of 58, 768 US dollars with be used to execute the training project in the state.
He said that the training cut across ethic, tribe, political and religion affiliations. According to him, the beneficiaries are between the ages of 15-35 years.
Read Also: Student loan scheme to commence January 2024: Tinubu
“The training programme is currently ongoing simultaneously across 15 ECOWAS – member countries.
“The programme is in collaboration with Anambra State Fisheries and Aquaculture Business Development Agency (FABDA) and Fisheries/Aquaculture Value Chain Development Partnership Center.
“The training center is located at the Anambra State Polytechnic Mgbaukwu, in Awka North Local Government Area of the State.
He said the table fish production business training sponsored by the ECOWAS commission is a human capital development component of the value chain development and has been programmed to produce competent and sound youth fish entrepreneurs to contribute in actualizing the already set production targets for the state and beyond.
He added that Anambra State has set a target to be able to produce a minimum of additional 51,000 metric tons of Table-fish per annum to achieve self-sufficiency in line with Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s vision of making Anambra a livable and prosperous state in Nigeria.
Mr. Iloghalu, while calling on unemployed youths in the state to massively key into the programme, noted that at the end of the training, the successful trainees are expected to acquire knowledge that will enable them become self-employed in the future.
