FISHERIES
SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (FISON)
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A THREE –
WEEK COURSE “ TRAIN THE TRAINERS” ON
FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE GOVERNANCE
ORGANISED BY FISHERIES SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (FISON) IN COLLABORATION WITH
WAGENINGEN UR (CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION ) THE NETHERLANDS ; HELD
AT TAUBA HOTEL LIMITED OFF SHEHU MUSA YAR”ADUA WAY UTAKO DISTRICT, FCT ABUJA,
NIGERIA - 4TH – 22ND MAY , 2015.
A three-week intensive training on
Fisheries and Aquaculture Governance was held at TAUBA Hotel Abuja from Monday,
4th through Friday, 22nd May, 2015. The course was
organized by Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) in collaboration with (CDI) Wageningen
UR, the Netherlands. The broad objective of the workshop is to introduce a
result based approach to Fisheries and
Aquaculture Governance in Nigeria (FAGN) and provide a framework within
which the Key Performance Indicators of the Fisheries and Aquaculture
Governance will be effectively monitored in a consistent and professional
manner.
A total of 20 participants attended
the workshop drawn from the Federal and State Departments of Fisheries,
Academic and Research Institutes, Nigerian Trawlers’ Owners Association and the
Private sector.
2. During the Opening address, the
National President of Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Dr. Olajide Ayinla Ffs informed the
participants that the purpose of bringing this workshop to Nigeria was to:
(i) Ensure that participants have
full benefits of participation, concentration and attention;
(ii) Have a clear understanding of
the principles behind FAGN since
the incoming President of Nigeria is
expected to measure the performance of
the Fisheries sub sector (FDF) in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development through a clear and measurable targets or yardstick and
(iii) Know that this is a “Training the Trainers’ workshop” where
participants are expected to train other Professional stakeholders across the
six geo-political zones in Nigeria particularly Staff of Government and Private institutions saddled
with the responsibilities of Fisheries and Aquaculture Governance; and it
should be noted that this is the first time Aquaculture governance was brought
to Africa. He encouraged participants to get the best out of the Resource
persons (Mr. Peter van der Heidjen and Mrs. Ingrid Gevers ) from CDI and wish them memorable stay in Nigeria.
3. Arising from the knowledge gained
and lessons learnt from global best practices, the following are the highlights
of observations and recommendations reached:
a)
Participants adjudged the training successful and
recommended that it should be replicated to update knowledge of management
staff and teach all senior cadre - officers at the Federal and State Ministries
(especially FDF and SDF); other stakeholders including private sectors
interested and / or affected in order to bring about the achievement of the
Results and Targets set by the Ministry
b)
The drafted Fisheries Act 2014 is to be reviewed to
accommodate policies in the field of Aquaculture especially in the areas of
certification and endorsement while fines and penalties on defaulters in the
industry should be included.
c)
The participants recommended that the Federal
Government should establish Fisheries
Commission. However, Aquaculture Development Project is to be introduced at
local government levels by States especially in the coastal areas of Nigeria.
d)
Participants suggested that inter and intra Departmental
synergy especially between FISON, FDF, Ministries of Environment and Water
Resources respectively should be strengthened and Monitoring and Evaluation
(M&E) visits should be timely with clearly defined objectives.
e)
Participants observed a gap in the working relationship
between the Desk Officers of FMARD, ADP (Extension) and Research institutes
currently. It was suggested that there is need for periodic meetings between
the Desk Officers in the ministry (Federal or State), Researchers and Farmers
(Farmers’ Forum) to enhance proper working relationships and reporting.
f)
It was agreed by stakeholders that the Syllabi used by
Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics, Monotechnics in Fisheries and Aquaculture
should be urgently reviewed to accommodate core areas demanded by employers of
labour and curtail the current practice of our Graduates being retrained at
neighbouring countries .
g)
Participants resolved that Subsidies on inputs for
Fisheries and Aquaculture by the government should be at end of production.
h)
The budget allocation for Fisheries sub sector should
be improved to allow for synergy with relevant stakeholders for effective
governance, data collection, monitoring and evaluation.
i)
Participants noted the importance of certification of
Fisheries products and consumer protection; hence, stakeholders in Fisheries
sub-sector are advised to adopt principles of Responsible Fisheries and
Aquaculture based on global best practices in order to exploit international
market.
j)
It was also agreed that State governors should be
visited as soon as possible to sensitize them on the need to create Ministries
of Fisheries as it is able to reduce unemployment among the youths and women.
4. The outcomes of the workshop was
achieved as participants attested at the closing of the study/workshop to have
learned how to develop a Result-Based Monitoring and Evaluation System and its
application to the various priority Commodity Value Chain programmes of the
Fisheries Industry
5. The participants wish to use this
opportunity to acknowledge and thank the Government of the Netherlands
especially CDI who funded the training, Resource persons and Fisheries Society
of Nigeria (FISON) for facilitating this very important programme, being the
first in Africa.
LIST
OF MEMBERS OF COMMINIQUE COMMITTEE
1. MR. SHEHU IBRAHIM MUSAWA (Chairman)
2. PROF. OGBE FRIDAY
3. MR RILIWANU UMAR
4. MR. OBINNA ANOZIE
5. MRS. AGNES OLADIPO
6. MR IBRAHIM ABUBAKAR
7. AGBABIAKA, L. ADEGOKE (PhD), Mfs. (Secretary)
