100 Ondo women trained in modern fish farming

No fewer than 100 female fish farmers from riverine communities in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have been trained in modern fish farming techniques.

The live demonstration programme, tagged Female Prep, was organised by the Aquaworld Community Development Initiative and sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme Global Environment Facility – Small Grants Programme  in Nigeria.

Speaking at the training in Ilaje, the Programme Manager of ACDI, Mr. Olagboye Olasukanmi, said the initiative formed part of the Climate-Resilient Fisheries Project, funded by UNDP.

According to him, participants were drawn from Ajegunle, Enu, Ama and Okesiri communities in the local government area, and were equipped with practical knowledge in artificial fish breeding, processing, and other aquaculture techniques.

The training was targeted at equipping women and young girls in fishing communities with the skills to boost household income, promote gender inclusion in fisheries, strengthen food security and adapt to climate change,” Olasukanmi explained.

He added that the two-day workshop featured hands-on sessions on fish breeding and processing, leaving participants not only with technical expertise but also the confidence to drive change in their communities.

“The Female Prep builds on the success of the first phase of the project, which addressed climate change impacts on fisheries by localising climate realities and integrating indigenous knowledge into resilient fishing strategies,” he said.

Olasukanmi commended the UNDP GEF-SGP and other stakeholders for supporting the project.

One of the trainers, Mrs. Blessing Oguntokun, noted that the sessions were tailored to the participants’ needs.

 “We ensured that training materials and language were translated into the local dialect so that no knowledge was lost. We strongly believe the training was impactful,” she said.

A participant, Mrs. Oluwatoyin from Okesiri community, expressed her excitement. “I learnt about artificial catfish breeding techniques and processes. I truly appreciate the organisers for bringing this opportunity to us,” she said.

During the visits, the team inspected factories and facilities, assessing critical infrastructure such as toilets, canteens, staff clinics, fire safety systems, fire trucks, and first-aid stations.

Companies visited included NOURDM Global Company Ltd., UGEE Chemical Ltd., and Polyfilm Packaging, all based in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.