ECOWAS Commends Anambra Govt On Fisheries And Aquaculture Policies

The Director of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Economic Community Of West African States ECOWAS, Dr. Alain Traore has commended the Anambra State Government for its policies on fisheries and aquaculture which is engendering the speedy development of the sector.

Dr. Traore made the commendation during the just concluded online press conference and workshop on the Comprehensive Strategic Framework for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture Development for the 15 ECOWAS Countries including Nigeria with the theme “market oriented aquaculture” organized by ECOWAS.

The Conference which attracted representatives of the fifteen member countries of the sub-continental body has the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Agency, Mr. Emeka Iloghalu representing Nigeria as a presenter of one of the 3 Case studies featured in the workshop.

The Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development of ECOWAS has the strategic objective of implementing the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) in order to contribute to a sustainable target of meeting and satisfying the food needs of the population, the economic and social development as well as the reduction of poverty in the Member States.

The Director of Agriculture, Dr Traore who thanked Mr. Iloghalu for his detailed presentation during the workshop lauded the state for it’s achievements and enjoined it to take many opportunities created by ECOWAS.

In his presentation titled “Technical and Economic Performance of a Typical Farmed Catfish and Tilapia production Business In Anambra State with Focus on table fish production with peek views on fingerlings, fish feed and processed fish products”, Mr Iloghalu pointed out that fisheries and aquaculture sector has immense revenue potential that is still untapped.

He listed the huge gap between demand and production coupled with job creation prospects and economic diversification as part of many benefits of the sub-sector and contributions to other sectors of the state economy.

The FABDA boss noted that the workshop is a huge milestone in developing the Fisheries and Aquaculture economic management in ECOWAS member states which the African Development Bank is fully involved in to ensure full implimentation of the objective of the Commission, and expressed gratitude that the state is playing a key role which is aiding the vision and mission of Governor Willie Obiano.
Mr. Iloghalu has been personally contributing to the Fisheries and Aquaculture development programmes since the year 2012.

Contributing, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Fisheries and Aquaculture Business Development Agency(FABDA), Mr. Ike Chioba described Mr. Iloghalu as a professional who is passionate in driving the fisheries and aquaculture sector of the state to enviable heights and expressed the hope that in coming months the state stands the chance to benefit from the funding scheme of ECOWAS to boost the state fisheries and aquaculture economy.