FG Optimising Aquaculture for Economic Wealth, Job Creation—Lokpobiri

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Heineken Lokpkobiri, has disclosed that the Federal Government was improving aquaculture in order to create economic wealth and job opportunities across the country.

Mr Lokpobiri made this known when he attended a high level meeting of key leaders and Ministers of Fisheries and Global Seafood Sectors in Iceland.

The concept of the meeting in Iceland is to further enhance the blue Bio-economy, with the aim of optimizing economic use of our oceans and aquatic resources.

The theme of the meeting was ‘Promoting the Blue Bio-economy, making best use of ocean opportunities.’

The meeting was organized in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Mr Lokpkobiri, who led the Nigerian delegation, in his submission, said the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has greatly expanded her political momentum that has resulted in the development and promotion of the implementation of the backward integration in aquaculture, thereby increasing wealth creation, economic gains and happy individuals and families in Nigeria today.

He said the background and objective of the forum on Bio-economy has over the last decade become a widely used term in global policies which are related to various issues such as food security, sustainable production, and energy needs.

The Blue Bio-economy is the blue sector of the economy, focusing on initiatives and applications being applied in fisheries and fish processing, aquaculture, coastal tourism, marine Biotechnology and other related sectors.

The concept of a “blue economy” came out of the 2012 Rio + 20 conference, this has played an important role in achieving the post-2015 Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).

The world seafood congress 2017 attracted over 500 seafood professionals from around the globe. There were international expert, speakers, keynote presentations and industry specific fisheries presentations, panel discussions and workshop sessions.