It is no longer news that Nigeria remains a net importer of fishery products, with a total fish imports amounting to about USD 1.2 billion and exports valued at staggering USD 284 390 million in the year 2013.
This has however, prompted Dr Oji Onu Ekumankama, who happens to be a Professor of Agricultural Extension at Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, emphasize on the need for more advanced training in fishing practices to be given to said that agricultural extension workers in Abia and Akwa Ibom states respectively.
Dr Oji Onu Ekumankama made this known while delivering the 40th inaugural lecture of the university themed, ‘Beneficial Technologies on the Farm: An Indispensable Part of the Extension Team.”
He also cited the need for the training to focus on economic practices, extension message delivery, agro forestry and solid management techniques.
Prof. Ekumankama further attested that the need for more training was revealed after he and two others, at different times in 2018, undertook comparative analysis of the training needs of field extension workers in the two states (Abia and Akwa Ibom state).
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The Professor also suggested that right policies should be put in place, as it would improve the level of formal education of extension workers through well-articulated in-service training courses.
