The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to collaborate with the Bayelsa State Government and a private firm to enhance aquaculture training for youths at the Bayelsa Aquaculture Village in Yenegwe, Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.
Victor Antai, the Executive Director of Projects at NDDC, revealed this during a visit to the aquaculture farm, accompanied by other officials from the commission. The initiative aims to incorporate the aquaculture facility into the NDDC’s Holistic Opportunities, Projects, and Engagement (HOPE) program, which prioritizes agriculture as a key component.
Antai expressed the commission’s commitment to providing food security in the Niger Delta region by engaging youths in agriculture. He praised the existing facilities at the Aquaculture Village, including hatcheries, earth ponds, feed mills, and fish processing units.
The NDDC plans to train youths from the nine states of the Niger Delta at the farm, allocating ponds to each trainee to practice what they learn and start their own businesses. Antai emphasized the importance of tripartite partnership with the Bayelsa State Government and the private firm to explore the best strategies for youth empowerment in the region.
Steve Okeleji, the Managing Director of Aquaseas Company Limited, highlighted the underutilization of the farm and expressed the need for collaboration with NDDC in capacity building for youths in the Niger Delta. Olalekan Adeleke, the Programmes and Project Lead at Aquaseas, provided further insights into the fully integrated facility and ongoing training initiatives.