AQUACULTURE GOVERNANCE CRUCIAL TO NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC TURNAROUND – EXPERT

Benjamin Omoike I Monday, May 14, 2018

LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigeria’s dwindling economic fortunes can be turned around if the nation embraces a sound and futuristic perspective for fisheries and aquaculture governance; so says an expert and former Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo state, professor Adebisi Balogun. He made the call while delivering a lecture titled; ‘Activities of Fisheries Institute Of Nigeria (FIN): A Future Perspective In Fisheries Governance In Nigeria’, on the occasion of the 15th Fellowship and Award Ceremony of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria, FISON, held at the Ostra Hall and Hotel Limited, Ikeja, Lagos.

According to professor Balogun, the topic of the lecture was apt as a strategy to prepare the society for the implementation of its future charter status. He stressed that now that the nation had embraced the idea of diversification of the economy; getting it right when it came to fisheries and aquaculture governance, would be of utmost benefit to the nation, as this, with its huge potentials, presented a bright future for economic growth and development for the nation at large.

In his address, national president of FISON, Dr. olajide Ayinla, said he was excited, especially because most of the awardees were relatively young professionals with years of service under their belt. He urged them to see and regard their award as a call to service, and to join other committed professionals in reengineering and rebranding the Fisheries Society of Nigeria to a more enviable professional society.

While acknowledging their immense contributions in no small measure to fisheries and aquaculture nationally and internationally; he equally charged them to bring their experience to bear on FISON. This, he admonished, would be needed for the good of all.

He congratulated the founding fathers of FISON for the overall achievements of the association so far and saluted their role in getting the body to its present level and high standrds. He said the present generation must also work hard to bequeath an enduring legacy to future generations as well.

At the event,  which doubled as the Investiture of 2016 set of professional fellows, 23 members, regarded as accomplished achievers, whom had satisfied the stringent criteria of Fellows of Fisheries Society, were conferred with the honour.

Among those awarded were erudite professors, consultants of note both at national and international levels in all aspects of fisheries and aquaculture. Also on the list were seasoned civil servants, fisheries and aquaculture practitioners and serving researchers in related research institutes.

Some of the awardees include: Dr. Peter Egwui; Dr. (Mrs) Amiye Francis; Dr. Ekelemu Kessena; professor John Alfred-Ockiya; Dr. Akinyemi A.A; professor Ibukunoluwa Ayodele; professor Emmanuel Ajani; professor Bernadette Fregene; professor Joseph Ipinjolu; Dr. (Mrs) Taiwo Akande; professor Bamidele Omitoyin; professor Richard Kings and Dr. Olalekan Oguntade.

Others are Dr. Ebonwu Benjamin; Dr. Titus Ibiwoye; Alhaji Mohammed Mu’azu; Mr. Pwaspo Emmanuel; Mrs. Dominica Osadebay; Mrs. Adepegba Bamidele; Mr. Fidelis Nwokedi; Mrs. Olufunmilola Olusanya; Mrs. Ngozi Okonkwo and Mr. Aderemi Ahmed.