The Tai Solarin Federal University of Education (TASFUED), Ijagun, marked the 2025 World Fisheries Day with a call for innovation, youth engagement, sustainable practices, and strategic partnerships to unlock Nigeria’s vast aquaculture potential.
These perspectives were strongly echoed by the Guest Speaker and CEO of the Ijebu Development Initiative on Poverty Reduction, Dr. Martins A. Adeniyi, while speaking on “Prospects of Aquaculture in Nigeria.”
He cited challenges such as insufficient supply of quality fingerlings, high feed costs, limited species diversification, and frequent disease outbreaks.
Despite these constraints, Dr. Adeniyi affirmed that Nigeria remains one of Africa’s most promising aquaculture hubs, with opportunities in feed production, hatchery operations, logistics, processing, and value addition.
He further urged students to seize opportunities, embrace teamwork, remain resilient, innovate, and adopt a growth mindset to succeed in the expanding aquaculture sector.
Speaking at the event, The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Rotimi Ettu, underscored the accessibility and profitability of fish farming, stressing that young people can start even with minimal space.
“Fishery is not only done on a large scale; you too can begin in your backyard as students,” he advised, highlighting the importance of vocational training as a core part of TASFUED’s mission to produce graduates who become employers of labour rather than job seekers.
Welcoming participants, the Head, Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Management, Prof. B. J. O. Ayorinde, described this year’s theme, “We have caught nothing; but at Your word I will let down the nets”, as a powerful metaphor for resilience in a sector facing rising costs, climate variability, water quality challenges, unstable markets, and dwindling wild fish stocks.
He called for strengthened collaboration among government agencies, Universities, private sector actors, NGOs, financial institutions, and farming communities to support innovation and policy reforms.
In her keynote address, the Dean, College of Agriculture and Hospitality Management (COAHM), Prof. Ikotun Taibat, highlighted the global importance of fisheries in nutrition, livelihoods, and cultural identity.
She emphasized that fisheries provide food security for billions and employment for more than 60 million people worldwide.
Prof. Ikotun warned that overfishing, pollution, climate change, and weak governance threaten aquatic sustainability, urging stakeholders to adopt modern aquaculture technologies, empower communities, protect ecosystems, and strengthen regulatory compliance, reaffirming COAHM’s commitment to research, training, and extension services that advance Nigeria’s blue economy.
Adding his voice, the newly appointed Director of the Centre for Entrepreneur and Vocational Studies (CENVOS), Dr. Samuel Adekoya, reinforced the DVC’s message, reminding students that Vocational Education is central to their development.
He noted that vocational skills are a lifetime investment, citing examples of TASFUED students who have successfully ventured into business using the competencies gained from the University’s programs.
The event featured presentations, discussions, and knowledge-sharing sessions aimed at strengthening sustainable practices, empowering youth, and expanding Nigeria’s aquaculture capacity.
It brought together scholars, policymakers, fish farmers, industry leaders, and students committed to advancing a vibrant, resilient, and economically viable fisheries sector.