ECOWAS TRAINS 150 ANAMBRA YOUTHS ON TABLE FISH PRODUCTION

REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has trained one hundred and fifty youths from Anambra State on Table Fish Production.

The training, which was held at the Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu had trainees drawn from various communities across the state.

Anambra State was selected as one of the 25 centres in the 15 ECOWAS countries and one of the four in Nigeria that the Commission granted subsidies to train young people in the Table Fish Production.

The Commissioner, for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, ECOWAS Commission, Mrs. Massandje Toure- Litse, while congratulating the trained graduates, noted that they had shown the desire to contribute to the economic development of Nigeria and the region as a whole.

She noted that the idea was to train people, who would become self reliant and contribute to the food security and availability in the entire West Africa.

Mrs. Toure-Litse said the training was part of the ECOWAS’ broader vision to move from states down to the people, peace and prosperity by 2050.

The ECOWAS Commissioner explained that the Agro and Fishery production was part of the key components of the Four strategic objectives for the period of 2022 to 2026.

In a message, Anambra State Government, Professor Chukwuma Soludo noted that the state had structured its human capital development to encourage the youths to attain greater heights in various spheres, including ICT, Fishery, and Agriculture.

The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, thanked ECOWAS for the gesture and called on the graduates to take advantage of the opportunity to become millionaires and employers of labour in no distant time.

Also, the Managing Director, Anambra Fishery and Aquaculture Business Development Agency (FABDA), Mr. Emeka Iloghalu, who explained that the training lasted for four months with rigorous selection process, thanked ECOWAS for the partnership, which had yielded positive result.

Mr. Iloghalu noted that the entire process would not have been possible if not for the peaceful and enabling environment provided by Governor Soludo and his special belief that Youth development is a major strategy for economic development.

Some of the beneficiaries, Mr. Chukwuebuka Ezeanya, Ndidiamaka Ezedike, and Ifeoma Oraekie from from Anaku in Ayamelum Local Government Area expressed joy for the training.

They noted that if they were able to get established, they would proudly provide for their families and contribute towards the development of the state as well as the country at large.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU