Ogun Government says it is set to expose stakeholders to the numerous opportunities in fish and aquaculture products value chain through its organisation of the Fisheries/Aquaculture Fair 2022.
The Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Kikelomo Longe, made this known in Abeokuta on Saturday while briefing newsmen.
Kikelomo, said that the fisheries/Aquaculture fair 2022 would hold from Nov. 21 to Nov. 25 at the M.K.O Abiola Trade Fair Complex, in Abeokuta.
She said that the fair with the theme: “Value Addition as Catalyst for Sustainable Fisheries” was orgainised by the Ogun State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA) in partnership with the state government.
Longe said the fair would be a platform to encourage stakeholders to further grow their businesses by embracing processing and adding value to their fish and aquaculture products.
She added that the programme would be beneficial to the recent groundbreaking of Nigeria’s first Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) in Ilishan Remo by Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun.
“The Fisheries and Aquaculture Fair is coming at a good time because of the many benefits it offers to the good people of our dear state and the development of agriculture, as well as trade and commerce.
“The fair is also coming at a time when we are developing a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, an industrial area. that will be dedicated to processing agricultural produce.
“Beyond sales, increase in brand awareness, exhibitors have the opportunity of learning new trends in fishery and aquaculture, as well as networking with relevant stakeholders”, Longe said.
The commissioner, who lauded the OGUNCCIMA for its diligent and proactive approach to making this year’s edition the best in the history of the event, urged residents to take advantage of the fair to build their capacity.
Also, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Adeola Odedina, represented by the Deputy Director Fishery, Mr Jamiu Ismail, said that the fair would help the state continue to consolidate its position as the largest producer of fish and aquaculture products in Nigeria.
Speaking earlier, President, OGUNCCIMA, Mr Mike Akingbade, said that the fair was designed for fish farming value chain industries to showcase their products and services to create awareness and to examine the market trend and opportunities available.
Akingbade said that the collaboration between the Ogun government and the Business Membership Organisation, had helped to increase productivity and had encouraged and developed Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) through the influx of investors into the state.
