Nigeria is partnering with Professor Rashid Sumaila, a world-renowned expert in Ocean and Fisheries Economics, to address challenges affecting food supply and fish sufficiency in the Gulf of Guinea.
Professor Sumaila, known for his interdisciplinary research on ocean sustainability and fisheries management, was in Lagos for a progress meeting with the Nigerian team on strategies to enhance food security and promote sustainable fisheries in the region.
The meeting, held in Lagos, formed part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian team to assess postgraduate Doctoral and Master’s students drawn mainly from Lagos State University (LASU) and the University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Professor Shehu Latunji, a Fisheries expert from LASU and one of the Nigerian Co-Investigators in the Solving-FCB project, said; “Professor Sumaila’s visit was to evaluate the performance of the LASU and UNILAG teams working on the project titled “Solving Sustainability Challenges of the Food, Climate and Biodiversity Nexus.”
After listening to presentations and discussions on various topics, Professor Sumaila commended the students for their research efforts in addressing issues affecting the marine ecosystem and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
He stated that “the goal of the project is to understand through research how we can feed millions of Nigerians with fish without emptying the ocean in the face of climate change.”
According to him, the project promotes capacity building and collaboration among journalists, scientists, governments, and NGOs to share knowledge that would help manage Nigeria’s fisheries sustainably for the benefit of present and future generations.
The Solving-FCB project is a global initiative funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and led by the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF) at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada. The six-year project began in 2022.
Also in attendance were Dr. Charles Iyangbe, Country Representative of WorldFish Nigeria; Mrs. Foluke of the World Aquaculture Society; a representative from the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography; and several other collaborators and students who joined the meeting virtually.
The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of a souvenir, a large photograph of Professor Sumaila bearing the autographs of all participants as a token of appreciation for his visit.