By Ayodele Oni
Elated by the high economic activity at the popular Ilaje fish market in Ondo State, the Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has assured that the market would be developed to meet protein demand not only in Nigeria but in Africa.
The Minister explained that the ‘one LGA one product’ initiative is aimed at advancing the most dominant economic activity in each local government area to create jobs and sustainable livelihood especially for economically active youths at the grassroots.
The Minister stated this at the weekend when he paid a working visit to one of the biggest fish markets in Nigeria situated in Ilaje, Ondo State. He appraised the huge potential of the market and applauded the founder for his foresight.
Olawande, who could not hide his excitement with the level of economic activities going on at the market and the number of youth engaged, said he was proud that his vision to reduce youth unemployment, especially at the grassroots, is already taking root in Ondo State.
“I’m proud this is happening in Ondo. I believe, firmly, that we cannot address unemployment by simply driving interventions in the urban centers alone, which in most cases benefit only the educated formal youth.
“I believe we must do our utmost to carry the informal youth in our local communities along by factoring them into all our job creation plans.
“Almost all our local government areas have one outstanding product or economic mainstay.
“We must harness the peculiar and comparative economic activity in each local government area to create jobs, which is the thinking behind the ‘1 LGA, 1 Product’ initiative.”
The Minister, assured of his commitment to facilitate the required support and collaborations that would improve the productive capacity of Ilaje Fish market and enable it to fully take advantage of the surging protein demand in Nigeria and across Africa.
