Jimoh urges FG to prioritise aquaculture for food security
By Abubakar Imam
A former Head of the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries at the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemi Jimoh, has charged the Federal Government to recognise sustainable aquaculture as a strategic component of Nigeria’s food security, nutrition, and Blue Economy agenda.
Prof. Jimoh gave the charge last Thursday (September 3, 2026) while delivering the 306th Inaugural Lecture of the University, titled “Green Feeds, Healthy Fish: Enhancing Aquaculture Productivity”, at the University Auditorium.
The Inaugural Lecturer explained that the government could do so by increasing investment in research, innovation, human capacity development, and commercialisation of locally developed technologies in aquaculture and fisheries.
Such investment, according to Prof. Jimoh, will accelerate the transition towards a resilient, environmentally sustainable, and globally competitive aquaculture industry capable of creating employment, reducing import dependence, and contributing significantly to national economic development.
He said that the strategic implementation of this framework would drive fundamental transformation as aquaculture has the potential of becoming a resilient, environmentally restorative, and economically strong sector.
Prof. Jimoh also said that the vision is essential for ensuring food and nutrition sovereignty, creating dignified employment, and building sustainable livelihoods for current and future generations.
The Inaugural Lecturer also enjoined both the Federal and State Ministries of Agriculture as well as universities, research institutes, and feed manufacturers to provide dedicated funding and commercialisation support for the development of alternative protein sources from underutilised plants, insects, and agro-industrial by-products for use by aquafeed manufacturers and fish farmers. He said that the implementation of this suggestion would reduce dependence on imported fishmeal while lowering feed costs.
Prof. Jimoh also said that universities, research institutes, biotechnology companies, and commercial feed millers should jointly develop, optimise, and transfer affordable feed-processing technologies, including fermentation, extrusion, enzyme supplementation, and thermal processing, to feed manufacturers and farmers in order to improve nutrient digestibility, eliminate anti-nutritional factors, and enhance feed efficiency.
The Inaugural Lecturer also charged environmental agencies, waste management authorities, private agribusinesses, and aquaculture entrepreneurs to establish integrated waste-to-feed programmes that convert fish processing wastes, insect biomass, and agricultural residues into quality feed ingredients for the aquaculture industry. He said that the strategy would promote circular bioeconomy principles, reduce environmental pollution, and create additional employment opportunities.
Prof. Jimoh also encouraged universities, pharmaceutical companies, aquafeed manufacturers, and research institutes to collaborate towards developing, validating, registering, and commercialising phytogenic feed additives derived from indigenous medicinal plants for adoption by fish farmers. He said that doing so would improve gut health, nutrient utilisation, disease resistance, and reduce dependence on synthetic chemotherapeutics.
The don also said that feed manufacturers, veterinary professionals, fish health specialists, and regulatory agencies should formulate, certify, and promote functional aquafeeds containing probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and natural immunostimulants for routine use by fish farmers in order to strengthen disease prevention, reduce antibiotic misuse, and improve fish welfare and productivity.
Prof. Jimoh also encouraged the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, relevant regulatory agencies, and the National Assembly, to formulate and implement policies that provide research grants, tax incentives, and innovation financing for sustainable aquafeed development while enforcing feed quality and safety standards for the benefit of producers and consumers.
He also encouraged Agricultural Development Programmes (ADPs), extension agencies, universities, NGOs, and farmers’ associations to organise regular hands-on training programmes on low-cost feed formulation, feed processing, fish health management, and sustainable production practices for small-scale fish farmers. This, according to him,will improve farmers’ technical capacity, productivity, and profitability.
Prof. Jimoh similarly encouraged universities, market research organisations, agribusiness firms, and government agencies to conduct periodic consumer preference and market intelligence studies and communicate the findings to producers, processors, and marketers to ensure that aquaculture production responds effectively to consumer demand for quality, safe, and sustainably produced fish.
He also urged government, development finance institutions, commercial banks, private investors, and fish farmers’ cooperatives to invest in modern fish processing facilities, cold-chain infrastructure, packaging systems, and value-addition enterprises to support fish producers and processors so as toreduce post-harvest losses, increase profitability, improve product quality, and strengthen food security.
Prof. Jimoh equally urged the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, universities, research institutes, the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), aquaculture industry associations, private-sector stakeholders, and international development partners to establish a National Aquaculture Innovation Compact, which would coordinate research, technology transfer, policy dialogue, and private-sector investment for the benefit of Nigeria’s aquaculture industry.
He opined that the compact would serve as a permanent platform for translating research findings into commercial technologies, harmonising national priorities, mobilising investment, and accelerating the growth of a resilient and globally competitive aquaculture sector.
Speaking on other issues, Prof. Jimoh urged parents and guardians not to shy away from their responsibilities particularly in mentoring and providing adequate guidance for their children and wards for them to realise their full potentials.
Drawing from personal experience, the Inaugural Lecturer also appealed to teachers to always be mindful of their roles in ensuring that their students are properly raised and encouraged to achieve their targets.
The Inaugural Lecture, which was presided over by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, was also attended by colleagues, relations, friends, students and mentees of Prof. Jimoh from far and near.
