FG calls for empowerment of women, youth in aquaculture value chain

The federal government has renewed calls for the elimination of financial and market barriers limiting the participation of women and youth in Africa’s fisheries and aquaculture sector, saying their empowerment is critical to unlocking the full benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

According to a statement signed by Anastasia Ogbonna, Director, Information & Public Relations, on Tuesday, Fatima Sugra Tabi’a Mahmood, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, made the call in Abuja at the AfCFTA–ECOWAS Regional Workshop on Women and Youth in Fisheries and Aquaculture Value Chains.

She described fisheries and aquaculture as a strategic sector for food security, employment generation, poverty reduction, and economic diversification across the continent.

Mahmood, who was represented by Angela Okereke, director of Marine Abiotic Resources, noted that women and youth play essential roles across the value chain, including production, processing, distribution, and marketing.

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She said women dominate post-harvest activities, while young people are increasingly driving innovation and expansion in the sector.

Despite these contributions, she said both groups continue to face major structural challenges, including limited access to finance, inadequate infrastructure, high post-harvest losses, restricted market access, and weak integration into formal trade systems.

“These challenges must be collectively addressed to unlock the sector’s full potential under the AfCFTA framework,” she said.

The permanent secretary reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to repositioning the sector through sustainable fish production, improved value addition, stronger regulatory systems, and enhanced access to domestic and regional markets.

She also emphasised the need to harmonise standards, strengthen sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and leverage digital technologies to deepen regional integration.

Also speaking at the event, Anataria Uwamariya, director of Business Competitiveness at TradeMark Africa (TMA), announced that a new initiative soon to be launched is expected to create over 280,000 jobs for women and youth across Africa’s fisheries value chain, with more than half of the jobs projected for West Africa.

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She explained that the pilot programme will support increased intra-African trade under AfCFTA by improving access to fish feed and inputs, enhancing cross-border trading conditions, and strengthening institutional capacity within the sector.

In her remarks, Florence Mulenga-Sinyangwe, a representative of the AfCFTA Secretariat, said efforts are ongoing to remove trade barriers such as high tariffs, certification bottlenecks, and financing gaps that hinder inclusive participation.

She noted that AfCFTA has moved into full implementation, with a strong focus on reducing trade costs and promoting inclusivity, particularly through its Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade.

On his part, Christopher Mensah Yawson, ECOWAS Commission representative, highlighted the demographic importance of women and youth in West Africa, noting that women make up nearly half of the population, with a median age of 18.2 years.

He called for greater formalisation of the fisheries sector to improve access to finance and attract investment, stressing that unlocking the sector’s potential would significantly boost economic opportunities across the region.