WAAPP, FUNAAB deepen agribusiness with fish farming in Ogun

As part of efforts to boost investment in fish farming and stimulate the interests of Nigerian youths in agribusiness, especially in aquaculture, the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), have donated two earthen ponds and one deep well to Egba Comprehensive High School, Abeokuta in Ogun State. 

 

According to Akin Omotayo, professor and coordinator, WAAPP-FUNAAB Project, the initiative was aimed at re-orientating farmers and stimulating agricultural enterprises among the populace, starting from students of secondary schools, as part of measures to enhance food sufficiency through improved technologies and information dissemination.

Charging the School management, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and the alumni in ensuring the sustainability and multiplication of the project, Omotayo said the initiative was deliberately targeted at youths, particularly secondary school students, “who are still agile and more receptive to emerging technologies”. 

 

He however, commended the enthusiasm with which the School embraced the project and promised that it would further assist in providing fish smoking kiln to aid processing, value addition and encourage entrepreneurship among the students.

Also, Victor Olowr, professor and director, agricultural media resource and extension centre, FUNAAB, lauded the cooperation and zeal being demonstrated by the school and admonished members of staff and students to keep up the spirit, saying youth’s participation in agriculture is the key to combating hunger in the country. 

 

Kehinde Dixon, principal, Egba High School, appreciated WAAPP-FUNAAB for the donation, noting that the intervention would strengthen the agricultural curricula of secondary schools, as well as nurture the students to be future entrepreneurs. 

 

The School Old Students’ Association, represented by Nurudeen Maku, an alumnus and staff member of FUNAAB, promised to provide the School with a pumping machine to facilitate regular water flow from the deep well to the earthen ponds.