By Hauwa Ali
The Ogun State Government is set to organize a 5-day Fisheries/Aquaculture Fair 2022, which will begin on November 21 to end on November 25.
The Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Kikelomo Longe, made this known in Abeokuta over the weekend while briefing newsmen.
According to her, the event which is scheduled to hold at at the M.K.O Abiola Trade Fair Complex, in Abeokuta, will expose stakeholders to the numerous opportunities in fish and aquaculture products value chain.
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.