Monday, November 22, 2021/12:30PM/Ecobank / Header ImageCredit: Ecobank 

EcobankNigeria has received commendation from Lagos state Government on itspartnership to uplift artisanal fisheries value chain in the state. Ms AbisolaOlusanya, the Commissioner for Agriculture in her remark at the presentation of34 fibre glass boats with outboard engines and other ancillary fishingequipment to cooperative societies of 680 youth fishermen, said partnershipwith Ecobank has been phenomenal in helping to develop business models suitablefor the fishermen, stating that the ministry was partnering with Ecobank andOld Mutual Assurance, to provide banking services, track cash flow in thebusiness and aid fleet expansion for the fishermen.

Olusanyadisclosed that the empowerment was under the 2021 Agricultural Value ChainsEnterprise Activation Programme, inaugurated by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Julyas part of the government's commitment to supporting the fishery value chain.She said that it was envisaged that the deployment of the fishing assets wouldcreate over 2,000 jobs in the upstream and downstream sub-sectors of theartisanal fisheries value chain, as well as to produce 4,531 metric tonnes offish annually. Olusanya said that each cooperative group comprising 20 memberseach would receive a boat.

Thecommissioner further explained that the partnership with Ecobank was aimed atmonitoring the activities of each cooperative group to ensure that they makejudicious use of the equipment. "Today, we are distributing the fibre glassboat to 34 cooperative groups free of charge, under the 2021 Agricultural ValueChains Enterprise Activation Programme. "We need to monitor your activities toensure that you utilise the equipment very well and also expand and increasethe number of your fleet with the support of the financial institution. Thebanks are here to plan your business and increase opportunities for thegenerations to come. We want you all to grow your business and becomemultinational companies. We don't want people to come from Japan, Netherlandsand other foreign countries to talk about fish more than our people from thelocal fishing communities," she said.

TheHead, Agriculture Desk, Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs Moji Oguntoyinbo, said that thebank was delighted to partner with the state government on the fisheries valuechain.

Oguntoyinbosaid that it was an intentional action for the bank to partner with Lagosstate, due to its coastal region with a lot of opportunities in fisheries. "Wehave seen Lagos state as a coastal region with a lot of opportunities infisheries and we are delighted that the government has picked us as a focus infood sustainability to start development in this sector. Today, we are verydelighted to be a partner on this laudable project. This is an intentionalinvestment and incentive to fishermen in Lagos, to promote this sector to theextent of making it possible for fish production and exportation, in the verynear future, from the state".

"Thisis very laudable for us and we are delighted that this will be a role modelplan and action that we will also try to replicate in other coastal regions ofNigeria.

"Lagosis always taking the lead and we are delighted to partner with you on thisproject," she said. She urged the beneficiaries to be consistently focused toensure that the project would continue to revolve and would be extended to manymore beneficiaries in the nearest future.

Also,Mr Adekunle Fasasi, President, Lagos State Fishermen Cooperative Societycommended the government for its continuous support and empowerment to thevalue chain. He noted that in the whole of Nigeria, Lagos state was first interms of fish production and promised to increase its number with the newempowerment.

"Lagosis a coastal region; we have oceans and seas and it is important that we takeadvantage of this for economic benefits. I am particularly happy that thisinitiative is focused on the youths, because these are the people that willtake over from us aged fishermen. I, hereby, implore the farmers to use theproperty as if they paid for it and prayed that God would continue to give themwisdom and strength needed to be better fishermen. Do not take it with levitybecause it is a gift," he advised."

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