Empowering Youths: ECOWAS and Anambra Government Tackle Food Insecurity with Table Fish Production Training

The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) Commission and the Anambra government have collaborated to train 150 youths in table fish production.

The training, sponsored by the ECOWAS Commission and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Business Development Agency (FABDA), was held at the Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu, near Awka.

Massandjé Toure-Titse, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture at the ECOWAS Commission, emphasized the importance of food and fish production as a major component of the food value chain.

She commended the youths for participating in the training, which is part of the implementation of the ECOWAS regional strategy to support the employability of young people in the agro-sylva-pastoral and fisheries sectors.

Toure-Titse reiterated the commitment of the ECOWAS Commission to supporting such initiatives and creating an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs to flourish in the agro-sylva-pastoral and fisheries sectors.

She highlighted the significance of the training in creating sustainable jobs for youths and enhancing food security in the region.

Dr. Onyekachi Ibezim, Deputy Governor of Anambra, expressed gratitude to ECOWAS for the training and emphasized the state government’s commitment to its economic revolution and youth training.

He assured the graduates that the government would provide them with seed funds to ensure their prosperity.

The training is part of the ECOWAS regional strategy to support the employability of young people in the agro-sylva-pastoral and fisheries sectors and one of the 25 centres in the 15 ECOWAS Countries and one of the four Centres in Nigeria to receive subsidies for training young people.

The trainees were encouraged to apply the knowledge they acquired to bring innovation and contribute to the growth of the fishing industry in their country and the region.

This initiative by ECOWAS and the Anambra government marks a significant step towards tackling food insecurity in the sub-region and empowering young people with the skills and knowledge needed to become successful entrepreneurs in the agro-sylva-pastoral and fisheries sectors.