The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria has launched the 2026 Training of West African Youth on Aquaculture

The Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria has launched the 2026 Training of West African Youth on Aquaculture, with a focus on sustainable fish farming. The programme opened today at the ARCN Auditorium in Abuja.

Declaring the training open, the Executive Secretary of the Council, Dr Abubakar Adamu Dabban, said this year’s theme — “Sustainable Fish Farming Using Black Soldier Fly Larvae” — reflects regional priorities on youth employment, food security, and environmental sustainability.

Dr Dabban noted that this is the third edition of the ECOWAS–ARCN collaboration, following the successful training of 230 young people in earlier rounds. Another 200 youth will be trained this year across four specialised institutions: ARCN, the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, and the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute.

According to him, the modules will cover Black Soldier Fly Larvae production, freshwater and marine fish farming, fish processing, and aquaculture business development — all designed to equip young people with both technical and entrepreneurial skills.

The ARCN chief highlighted youth unemployment as a major regional challenge, stressing that millions of young Africans enter the labour market each year. He said equipping them with market-ready skills in fast-growing sectors like aquaculture is essential for economic transformation.

Dr Dabban also pointed to the rising global demand for fish and Africa’s continuing supply deficit. He said sustainable feed alternatives such as Black Soldier Fly Larvae can help reduce production costs, strengthen the circular economy, and boost profitability for small-scale farmers.

The programme is part of ECOWAS initiatives aimed at job creation and technology dissemination through Nigeria’s Regional Centre of Excellence in Aquaculture.

Dr Dabban urged participants to take full advantage of the training, describing them as “future employers, innovators, and change agents.” He thanked ECOWAS, CORAF, partner institutions, and facilitators for their support.

Other speakers were Dr Charity Obetta, Coordinator Regional Centre of Excellence in aquaculture, Dr Akandu,a representative of ECOWAS commissioner on Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs Esther Okonje, Director Dept of fisheries Marine and Blue Economy amongst others.