120 Isolo, Ejigbo youths empowered on Fishery, Animal Husbandry

120 Isolo, Ejigbo youths empowered on Fishery, Animal Husbandry

• Lagos lawmaker, Johnson promises more democracy dividends

Lawmaker representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency 2, Lagos State, Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson, on Sunday facilitated the training and empowerment of youths in Isolo and Ejigbo Area of the constituency on Fishery and Animal Husbandry in partnership with the Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin-Kowa, and Manban Global Concepts Nigeria Limited.

120 constituents were trained on modern fishery and animal husbandry with start-up capital of N50,000 given to each of the beneficiaries.

Speaking during the programme, Johnson reiterated his commitment to gradually but relentlessly pursue economic empowerment programmes aimed at alleviating the hardship of his constituents.

The former Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure in Lagos said residents need to be supported and empowered in a way that they will be self-reliant to overcome the strains of hardship.

“If you give a man fish; you have just given a single meal, but if you train him how to fish, he will eat throughout his lifetime,” he said.

Johnson said beneficiaries will bring meaningful improvement to the economy of the constituency and Lagos being an aquatic state with over 24 million population as a result of the enabling environment and market for fish farming business.

He said: “Fishes are important in achieving food security and poverty alleviation in the country, the benefits of fish farming are much as a result of high demand of fish in the market. Fish gives protein and other essential minerals therefore the demand is high, also the maintenance cost and risk of fish farming is low.”

He further charged the beneficiaries to see the fish farming business as a side income, to augment their learned skills in other vocations to create wealth, value and employment.

The lawmaker restated his commitment to continue with the empowerment programs within the available resources at his disposal and to minimize poverty among his people and as long as he remains in the National Assembly, he will continue to serve constituents and bring democracy and its dividends closer to them.

Chairman of the occasion, the former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan, charged the beneficiaries to improvise and market their products well, while improving the food industry in the state.

He said; “Poverty is a major issue that we are concerned about,the more we reduce the number of people undergoing poverty the better it is for us. This is a golden opportunity to escape poverty and create opportunity for others to survive.”

Provost, Federal College of Horticulture, Dadin-Kowa, represented by Hassan Adesina, lectured the participants on fish farming and goat rearing. He emphasized the benefits of animal husbandry in Nigeria for beginners.

Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Idimogu in his goodwill message, charged the beneficiaries to utilize the grants well and put into practice what has been taught

Olatunji Ajose, a beneficiary said the programme would increase their productivity and reduce the level of poverty in their constituency assuring the organisers that the grants received by him will be used judiciously for the fish farming project.