The Dean, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, University of Ibadan, Professor Emmanuel Kolawole Ajani has said that there is need for the government to increase the funding support for research activities that would be tailored towards the industrial need of the people in Nigeria.
The professor disclosed this on Thursday, 29 August, 2019 while delivering his inaugural lecture titled “Engaging the Fish: Elixir for Nigeria';;s Self-Sufficiency in Fish Production" at the Lake Side Lecture Theatre, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan during the 465th inaugural lecture of the University.
In his statement, Professor Ajani said “Nigeria is richly blessed with abundant water resources, and this water resources are also richly endowed with floral and final resources. And, despite the fact that we have this resources in abundance, we could not get fish as a food on the table for people’s consumption across the nation, rather, we are even spending our money to import what we already have in Nigeria”.
Speaking about what the government need to do to make fish available for consumption in the country, he said “The first step towards this is that, we need to have an information base. We have only one fish in Nigeria that we find almost in our water body especially in fresh water environment which is catfish (Clariasgariepinus) but up till now, we don’t have information or what I will call biological package, production package on how to rear this catfish. Apart from catfish, we have one very valuable fish species that people so much love like ParachanaObscura, gymnarcusniloticus (EjaOsan) and Tilapia species, they are so abundant in our water body and they are highly valued fish but today, if anybody want to go into how to culture them by bringing them from their natural environment, rearing them under artificial environment through aquaculture, we don’t have information package, investment package that will have all the biological information” he said.
“We need to get this information package for the use of the people in the society. That is the thrust of my research to engage the fish. This we have not done but thank God, all through my 23 years in the university, I have been able to develop cultural biological package in a more scientific way for culture of Clariasgariepinus in Nigeria, tested biological package for culture of ParachanaObscura, and also, we are building the information base for the culture of gymnarcusnilotucus. When you have this array of fishes even when people want to invest into aquaculture, this information will serve as a guideline” Prof. Ajani said.
He stated that there is need for the Nigerian government to increase the funding support for research activities that would be tailored towards the industrial need, and what the people need in the society.
He further stated that support should be provided for development of ‘aquapreneurship’ innovation incubation centres that are tailored to the specific national economic development goals. In this regard, the University of Ibadan Fish Farm is playing significant roles.
Professor Ajani strongly appealed to the University Management to remain unwavering in its support to the Fish Farm by committing more fund support especially for the running of the farm.
“Only 30% of the Fish Farm facilities are currently being utilized due to grossly inadequate funding. The farm will efficiently play its role as an innovation incubation centre in economically beneficial manner if the needed support is provided” he said.
Also “as a critical step in putting into reality Nigeria’s desire to be self-sufficient in fish production and making fisheries and aquaculture a major contributor to the nation’s GDP, it is necessary to draw a national fisheries and aquaculture development plan that would be holistic and all-embracing, with tasks for each of the stakeholders supported with in-depth performance indicators” he said.
The erudite professor however said “as a researcher, we still need to work more. This is just a drop in the ocean. There are still more fish species in our water body that we need to develop the culture package and bring it on board for aquaculture to grow and this will be my focus to invest on people to do this. There is still more work to be done”.
The 465th inaugural lecture had in attendance the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka who led the Management team of the premier University and also the chairman of the inaugural Lecture, Prof Labode Poopola, Vice Chancellor Osun State University, Major General rtd Akin Bayeiroju, Air Commodore rtd Salaudeen, Emeritus Professor S.S Ajayi, Emeriyus Professor Longe, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration, Professor K.O Adebowale; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Prof. A.B Ekanola; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, Prof. Olanike K. Adeyemo; Professor Ayelari Fomer DVC Administration, University of Ibadan, Deputy Provost, College of Medicine, Professor Obafunke O. Denloye; Deans of Provost of the Postgraduate College, Deans of Faculties and of Students';; Affair, Professor Olubukola. A Adedeji, Dean faculty of Science Obafemi Awolowo University, Directors of Institutes, Heads of Departments, Academic colleagues, families, friends and well-wishers.