OGUNCCIMA Hosts 2nd Fish Fair In Abeokuta

By ABIODUN JIMOH, ABEOKUTA

The second edition of Ogun State Fish Fair has been slated for November 23rd -27th, 2020, at M.K.O Abiola Trade Fair Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, from 8:00am – 6:00pm.

The weeklong fair themed ‘The relevance of fish production and processing in increasing the GDP and alleviating unemployment in Nigeria’ is organised by Ogun State Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA) with the support of the state government.

Alhaji Wasiu Babatunde Olaleye, President of OGUNCCIMA disclosed this at a media briefing held on Wednesday at the Council secretariat, M.K.O Abiola Trade Fair Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

In attendance at the briefing were Mr. Lere Ariyibi-Opaleye, Director of Commerce, who represented the Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Investment; Mrs. Ojelade Victoria Omolara, Director of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture; and host of others.

Olaleye in his address emphasised that fish fair is an exhibition design for fish farming value chain industries to showcase their products and services in order to create awareness and to examine the market trend and opportunities available.

He said: “This platform will be utilised to introduce new concepts and enhance economic strategies in the fish industry.

“This fair is designed for the small scale businesses, medium scale businesses, multinationals- absolutely for everyone in fish industry. It is geared towards the improvement of the economic status of the people of the state and its environs while it is fully endorsed by Ogun State government.

“OGUNCCIMA is joining in Ogun State government in ‘Building our future together’ economic growth of the state in the area of agriculture, in order to increase her productivity, and to encourage and develop SMEs through the influx of investors into the state, making her the investment place of choice.

“The 2nd Fish Fair 2020 will showcase various aquatic products and services, it will promote new businesses, it will birth new ideas, it will promote our non-oil exports, and it will promote our made in Nigeria products, especially those made in Ogun. It is one with a difference.”

In his contribution, Ariyibi-Opaleye noted that the ministry is fully in support of ensuring successful organization of the fair. Adding that anything about trade fair is peculiar to the ministry.

“The ministry has role to promote trade, facilitate in the state. Trade fair is to showcase local contents of SMEs. Fish fair is not limited to only fish farming, it involves companies, equipment distributors and many others,” he said.

In the same vein, Mrs. Ojelade on her part affirmed that Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina has been championing Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun cause of making the state becomes agriculture hub in Nigeria.

“This fish fair is a product specific, not like normal exhibition. It will enhance youths, women and the masses at this Covid-19 era. Many will benefit greatly from the fair. The fair will able to showcase untapped areas in the fisheries sectors e.g. aquarium, ornaments and many more,” she opined.