By Our Reporter
In fidelity to commitment in human capital development aimed at engendering job and wealth creation amongst his constituents, Rep Afam Victor Ogene, on Tuesday facilitated a training and empowerment programme for young men and women on entrepreneurship in fishery business in Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Anambra state.
The programme, according to the office of the Rep member, was part of the first batch of line-up of empowerment programmes designed to boost multidimensional Agro businesses and other sectors in Ogbaru.
In September, Hon. Ogene had facilitated the training of 100 Ogbaru youths on solar energy technology and provided the trainees with starter packs and cash grants.
A total of 50 beneficiaries comprising of 40 women and 10 men participated in the Aqua Agro programme, which was hosted at the Ruchem Beach Hotels, Iyiowa-Odekpe. The programme was executed by the Federal Co-operative College, Oji River, in conjunction with Z-Index Limited and the office of Hon. Ogene.
The beneficiaries received training on how to establish a fishery business – including how to handle fingerlings till maturity age. They were also taught in details about the types of feed to breed the fish with, how to feed them, the kind of supplement and hygiene required for optimal health and growth of the fish.
Apart from the theoretical session of the training, the trainers also engaged the beneficiaries in practical demonstrations of the procedure of fishery management. They were also given business tips in the field, after which they received startup packages which included fingerlings, plastic tanks, fish feed, fish antibiotics and cash grant.
Leader of the trainers, Mr. Arinze Nzeli, commended the empowerment gesture by the member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ogene, describing it as a potential game changer in the lives of the beneficiaries. According to him, farming of any kind is a great economic booster, both for the farmers and the society at large.
“Farming has evidently changed my life. I’m into fishery, poultry, and other forms of animal husbandry in this Ogbaru. And I can attest that if you are very dedicated, fishery can take one out of poverty. So, I encourage the beneficiaries of this training and empowerment programme to be very committed to this business and within a short period of time, they also will testify. It would offer them the needed opportunity for self employment and job creation too.
“I want to particularly thank our Honourable for setting up a committee to monitor the progress of the beneficiaries, especially as he has promised to further assist those who take the business seriously,” Mr. Nzeli said.
According to Hon. Ogene, the training and empowerment programme is part of his economic development strategy in Ogbaru Federal Constituency.
Speaking further in the essence of the programme, the Rep member, who is also the chairman, House of Representative Committee on Renewable Energy, said: “Our aim is not just to give our people fish, but to also teach them how to fish. We will continue to facilitate skills acquisition and entrepreneurship opportunities for our people that will help them thrive in life. Apart from university education, which we also support with access and opportunities for our people, we also thought it wise to incorporate some economic enhancing soft skills in addition to useful skills in evolving technologies which we started weeks ago with the training in solar energy for our youths.
“We will continue to do our best in this regard in addition to some physical projects – some of which are already ongoing – which we have facilitated for the good and development of our people,” Hon. Ogene disclosed.
One of the beneficiaries, Madam Oluchi Acholonu from Atani in Ogbaru LGA, said, “I’m thanking God Almighty for the person of Hon. Afam Ogene, who is a God sent to the people of Ogbaru Federal Constituency to lead the people and assist them in ways that would alleviate poverty, with his wise empowerment initiatives.
At the end of the training we were empowered with 1 big fish tank, 100 pieces of fishes(juveniles), bags of fish feed and some cash to startup the business”
Another participant, Mrs. Nkechi Nsofor, said she couldn’t contain her joy regarding the wonderful event – first of its kind and ably sponsored by Hon. Afam Ogene.
She said the training, ”Aqua Agro empowerment programme’, provided indepth knowledge on fish farming which will empower the women to support their families financially especially in this harsh economy.