With Nigeria facing increasing pressure to produce affordable food for a rapidly growing population, attention is gradually turning to aquaculture as one of the country’s most promising yet underutilised resources. Through farmer training, technical advisory services and capacity-building initiatives, Aquatic Hub Afrique Network (AHAN) is working to improve aquaculture productivity while promoting environmentally sustainable farming practices.

As Aquatic Hub Afrique Network (AHAN) expands its climate-smart aquaculture training programmes for fish farmers and young entrepreneurs, The Guardian’s Adaku Onyenucheya spoke with the organisation’s lead technical advisor, Babatunde Adeleke, on why sustainable aquaculture must become central to Nigeria’s food security strategy.

At the heart of many of the organisation’s technical programmes is Babatunde Adeleke, a sustainable development and blue economy professional whose work focuses on sustainable aquaculture, food systems and climate resilience. In this interview with The Guardian, Adeleke explains why strengthening technical capacity among fish farmers may prove just as important as investing in infrastructure.

Nigeria continues to grapple with food security challenges. Why should aquaculture receive greater national attention?

Food security is not only about producing enough food; it is about producing nutritious food sustainably. Fish remains one of the most affordable sources of animal protein for millions of Nigerians, yet domestic production continues to fall short of demand. That presents both a challenge and an opportunity. By strengthening aquaculture, we can improve food availability, reduce dependence on imports, create employment, and stimulate rural economic growth. The potential is enormous if we invest in the right knowledge and systems.

Adeleke believes one of the sector’s biggest constraints is not a lack of natural resources but insufficient technical capacity across the aquaculture value chain.

Your oganisation has focused heavily on training and capacity building. Why?

Successful aquaculture depends on informed decision-making. Farmers need practical knowledge on water quality management, fish health, nutrition, farm planning and business sustainability. Our programmes are designed to equip producers with those skills. When farmers understand the science behind production, they are better positioned to improve yields, reduce losses and operate more efficiently. Capacity building creates lasting impact because knowledge stays within communities long after a training programme has ended.

Climate change is affecting agriculture globally. How is it changing aquaculture?

Climate change is already influencing water resources, disease patterns and production conditions. That is why climate-smart aquaculture has become so important. It encourages practices that improve productivity while protecting aquatic ecosystems and making farms more resilient to environmental changes. Sustainability and productivity should not be viewed as competing priorities. In many cases, sustainable practices also make businesses more efficient over the long term.

Beyond producing more fish, what role can aquaculture play in national development?

Aquaculture supports much more than food production. It creates jobs across hatcheries, feed production, processing, transportation, marketing, and other parts of the value chain. It also provides opportunities for young entrepreneurs and contributes to local economic development. When we talk about aquaculture, we should be talking about an entire economic ecosystem rather than a single agricultural activity.

Looking ahead, Adeleke believes stronger collaboration between government, private sector operators and technical institutions will be essential for unlocking the sector’s full potential.

What gives you optimism about the future of aquaculture in Nigeria?

There is growing recognition that food security requires long-term investment in sustainable production systems. More young people are entering the sector, innovation is increasing and conversations around the blue economy are creating new opportunities. If we continue investing in technical knowledge, responsible resource management and farmer development, Nigeria can build an aquaculture sector that improves nutrition, strengthens livelihoods and contributes meaningfully to national food security.