At the India-Nigeria Roundtable on Aquaculture and Fisheries held in Ibadan, Oyo State, both Nigeria and India reiterated their dedication to fostering a sustainable future for aquaculture and fisheries through joint efforts, innovation, and strategic investments.
Organized by WorldFish in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the gathering united policymakers, researchers, industry leaders, and practitioners from the two countries to share insights and identify new avenues for sustainable aquaculture development.
Dr. Charles Iyangbe, WorldFish Nigeria’s Country Representative, described the roundtable as a vital forum for reflection, partnership building, and actionable strategies aimed at revolutionizing Nigeria’s aquaculture sector.
He noted that while India has successfully cultivated a dynamic aquaculture industry that significantly bolsters food security, job creation, and economic advancement, Nigeria holds substantial promise to emulate this success.
Iyangbe emphasized that the discussions would help uncover effective investment frameworks, innovative approaches, and institutional collaborations essential for inclusive growth within the sector.
WorldFish highlighted that this dialogue forms part of a larger South-South cooperation initiative designed to fast-track sustainable food systems through the exchange of expertise and technology transfer.
The workshop also served as a platform to analyze the enabling conditions and challenges hindering private sector engagement, focusing on issues such as financing access, infrastructure development, regulatory policies, and the adoption of new technologies.
According to Iyangbe, WorldFish’s efforts in Nigeria aim to close the gap between the increasing demand for fish and local production, which currently results in over $1.2 billion in annual fish import costs for the country.
“Through initiatives like the NORAD-supported Development and Scaling of Sustainable Feeds for Resilient Aquatic Food Systems in Sub-Saharan Africa (FASA) and the UK-backed Asia-Africa BlueTech Superhighway (AABS), WorldFish is advancing affordable fish feed innovations, enhancing seed supply systems, promoting digital biosecurity measures, and empowering small-scale farmers, women, and youth to develop aquaculture enterprises,” he explained.
He underscored that aquaculture encompasses more than just fish production-it is about generating livelihoods, ensuring nutritional security, and safeguarding natural ecosystems.
The Indian delegation, headed by Dr. Joykrushna Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science) at ICAR, included senior officials from India’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, among others.
