The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, says the federal government will set up training centres across the country to train women and youths on aquaculture.
Ogbeh said that there was need for governments to engage youths and women in agriculture by establishing skill acquisition centres across the country. He stated the Federal Government had already acquired 100 hectares of land at Gaobe, in Kuje Area Council of the FCT for the establishment of the skill acquisition centre in FCT.
“The young people are not happy with us. We need to find jobs for them. The African economy is not doing very well. Even oil and gas will not employ a million workers at the best of time and we are heading for 500million people in 34 years.
“These young people want to work. We have just acquired a piece of land. We want to set up training centres in all kinds of agricultural fields.
“We are hoping to get them into six months training for them to own their small operations afterwards. We will invite you soon to help with the training of these youths and women,’’ he said.
He decried shortage of protein in the diet of Nigerians, stating that the country needed to encourage local production of other species of fish aside tilapia and cat fish. He also said the government would continue to partner with research institutes and private groups to engage in massive investment in fish production.
The Minister said the Federal Government would continue to render necessary assistance to Triton Aqua Nigeria Limited towards its optimal local production of fish.
“Currently, our import bill on fish importation is about 700 million dollars per year. This is a huge amount. We need to stop the importation of fish by involving more youths and women into this business,’’ Ogbeh said.
He said the government of Nigeria would continue to render necessary assistance to Triton Aqua Nigeria Limited towards its optimal local production of fish.
