The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in partnership with the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), has trained youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on aquaculture to tackle unemployment in the country.

It was also noted that the aim of the training was to ensure that the youths were effectively empowered to enable them contribute positively to national economic development.

Addressing journalists during the training in Abuja, the acting Head of Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Charity Obetta, noted that Nigeria was leading in aquaculture among other West Africa countries.

Obetta, who was also the Coordinator, National Centre of Specialization in Aquaculture (NCOS), said that the training will enhance fish availability as well as reduce unemployment among youths in the country.

She said: “Nigeria is spending a lot of money on fish importation and that is why we are looking at areas where we can help the youths to increase fish production so that we can stop spending money on importation.

“ECOWAS assigned us to train 100 youths but because of the importance of the training, more people got interested. We didn’t know what to do but with AFCN support, we are able to train up to 130 youths this time.”

She explained that the training was part of ECOWAS initiative and strategy towards the capacity building of youths in the food value chain systems through the grants partnership with ARCN.

She further said that, “Sometime ago, ECOWAS in collaboration with Nigeria’s ARCN created nine centers of specialization, each country was given a commodity based on their strengths. For example, Ghana is handling roots and tubers because that is their strength.

“Mali is handling rice; Niger is handling lactose and they mandated Nigeria to take care of aquaculture. Because Nigeria is leading in aquaculture in West Africa, Nigeria is now the center of specialization of aquaculture, we are hoping that by with time, it will migrate to the regional center of specialization of excellence. So, ECOWAS is actually doing this in the whole of West Africa.”

One of the beneficiaries, Miss Simi Rose Alamba, while commending ECOWAS, noted that the training has improved her knowledge on fish processing, production and other technologies.

She said: “Nigerian fish production is not reaching up to the demand of consumers. So, we need more fish production so that we can reduce the rate of importation, which is taking a chunk of our finances or budgets due to the rise in exchange rates.”

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Garba Hamidu, who was represented by Director, Plant Resources Department, Dr. Oluwafemi Salako, said that Nigeria was one of the centers of specialization for training the youths.

He said: “There is a serious need for a high level of youth in Nigeria. And this training will serve as a means of putting skills in their hands in the field of agriculture so that they will eventually help in food security.”