No fewer than one hundred women in Edu, Moro, and Pategi Local Government Areas of Kwara State have been empowered with fish farming tools and cash.
The empowerment programme, facilitated by Hon. Ahmed Saba, of the Federal House of Representatives held at Shonga in Edu LGA over the weekend after comprehensive training of the beneficiaries on fish farming skills.
Speaking at the distribution of the empowerment items in Shonga, tagged “Renewed Hope Empowerment” which was organized by the Nigeria Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, in collaboration with Member representing Edu, Moro, and Pategi federal constituency of Kwara State, Mallam Ahmed Saba said the initiative is aimed at uplifting women folks in his constituency.
Represented by Muhammed Salihu, the federal lawmakers said the women were carefully selected from the constituency and trained in all aspects of fish farming.
Cross-section of beneficiaries
He said the women are also expected to train other members within their immediate family or the community to spread economic prosperity across the state.
Saba explained that the trainees have been provided with the necessary items to enable them to start the fish farming business immediately without any hitch.
In his remarks, the team leader from the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Procurement and Planning Units, Mr Lasisi Opeyemi expressed satisfaction with the quality of training the women went through.
He said the provision of the cash grant and other working tools would enable beneficiaries to start their business immediately.
Mr Opeyemi advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the materials given to them.
In his address, the coordinator and consultant of the training firm, Tripad Engineering, and Construction, Alhaja Alasinrin Abdulkadir said the women were trained in such a way that they would be able to train others who are interested in fish farming.
He urged the beneficiaries not to sell the empowerment items given to them, adding that they should use them to make their lives better.
In his remarks, the Emir of Shonga in Kwara state, Dr. Haliru Yahaya, represented by the secretary of the Emirate, Alhaji Yahaya, said the training and empowerment would alleviate the suffering of the people.
Some of the items distributed
Items distributed included a 5000-liter capacity plastic pond, 1000 Juvenile fish, fish feed, and a cash grant among others.
