How Anambra Govt is Grooming Millionaires through Fish Farming – ILOGHALU

By Praise Chinecherem

The Managing Director of Anambra State owned, Fisheries and Aquaculture Business Development Agency (FABDA), Mr Emeka Iloghalu says the agency has been equipped to transform local fish farmers into millionaires.

According to him, the agency has trained about 60 youths in the state in Table Fish Production Business tagged, “Creating Fish Millionaires Through The CBN AADS Project”, with a N1.2million empowerment package to grow their businesses.

He explained that the exercise was strategic advancement of the Fish Production Village Business Franchise project in line with the manifesto of the state Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

“In line with the manifesto of this administration, FABDA has facilitated the formation of the Table Fish Production Co-orperative Society Limited for the already trained 60 youths and they are currently being monitored to become fish millionaires.

“FABDA is poised to contribute up to at least 100 youth Fish Millionaires per annum with the right support and equipment.

“Already, I’m a millionaire, having been empowered by the government. But I don’t just want to be a fish millionaire or even billionaire, but to extend the expertise to my friends and loved ones,” he added.

Iloghalu further disclosed that the Soludo administration has provided the agency with the equipment, enabling environment, feeds and other things to actualize the ambitious dream of creating the next millionaires in fish farming in Anambra.

“We have over 100 members and will be expanding as time goes on. We’re trusting God to become millionaires soon”, he stressed.

The FABDA boss further disclosed that the United Nations had applauded the Anambra fish farming development model and urged other state governments in Nigeria to consider adopting it for effective and efficient development. 

According to him, the UN gave the advice through a high powered delegation from the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO-UN) to Nigeria which paid a courtesy visit to the state.

Mr Iloghalu said the delegates also assured that the state would benefit from the €48million mapped out for 12 participating countries in the Fish for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (FISH4ACP) programme.

“The delegates were highly impressed with the commitment of the state government to the development of fisheries and aquaculture sector in the state by creating FABDA.

“The team has also indicated interest to pay a visit to the governor to consolidate the (FISH4ACP) programme implementation.”

He further disclosed that the agency was looking forward to a visit by Norwegian Ambassador to Anambra State as well as Country Representative and Delegation of the Food and Agriculture organization of United Nations (FAO-UN) for bilateral discussions with Governor Soludo.

He explained that Anambra is the first state in the country to create an agency focusing on business development of agriculture fishery.  

“We’re created to reposition the fisheries and aquaculture value chain in the state in order to develop high growth be the largest fish producing state in West Africa.

“We’ve affected over 3,000 fish farms in the state, including table fish and fingerlings. These are very tedious process. We want to establish farms so we can hold each responsible for the volume of fish it produces for self sufficiency.

” After which we target producing surplus we can supply to industries to enable us become number one in West Africa.

“We need support, including funding and professional to achieve speed. 

According to him, the FAO earmarked $48m for the 12 participating countries.

“Nigeria was selected for cat fish value chain development. N4m for 6 geopolitical zones. We need mass production of table fish in our fish production village in the three senatorial districts, the first of its type in the country. We’ll be deliberate about it.”