Six decades of farming in print

THE book, Evolutionary Trends in Nigeriaís Fisheries Development authored by Akinade A. Olaniawo can be described as a summary of the history of fisheries development in Nigeria. The 86-page book is divided into eleven chapters chronicling developments between 1945 and 2005. 

  The publisher, Spectrum books limited in collaboration with Safari books (export) Ltd., displayed competence in the area of editing with very seasoned reservoir of scholars in-house and from outside. The forward is crafted by Otumba Noah Fadayomi, one of the nobilities in fisheries in Nigeria. 

  Given the quality of the writer of the forward, blended with the nobility of the author, combined with reputable publishers, the quality and credibility of facts in the book are therefore not in doubt.

  The author presented facts and expressed himself in very simple English without using biological and fisheries jargons, making the book very friendly to users including those without background in fisheries and related areas. The pictures and figures are quite clear relative to the environment of the author and vividly illustrate situations in focus.

  The topics covered in the book are historical antidote to food security and food safety. It reminded readers that, at one point in our National history, we were in a war. The take in this is that those who are currently fanning the ember of war and disintegration are in actual fact subscribing to caller tones of hunger and famine. Answering these calls to violence will lead to food insecurity and other unspeakable hardship irrespective of the network provider.

  Analysis of the highlights in the book reminds us of the critical areas to achieving the transformation agenda in fisheries with the sustainable taproot as aquaculture. Rightly, the book indeed did a review of the history of aquaculture development in Nigeria with some aspects of its highlighting the contribution of fisheries and aquaculture to the national economy, strength, weakness and opportunity. 

  The success of (ATA) lies in ensuring that it is private sector driven, presence of quality and quantity skilled work-force at lower, middle and upper levels, relevant research on all aspects of the fisheries value chain. 

  To this extent, the role of the private sector is documented in the book and the supporting actors (international agencies, Fisheries Society of Nigeria etc) required in the synergy for a sustainable fish farming were not left out including the strategy for the development of middle-level manpower which is the area of expertise of the author.

  This book is a good record of our past activities in fisheries as a nation. It is good for teaching at the tertiary levels of education, policy makers and implementers and to all adult Nigerians who love reading and are curious to enrich their knowledge. 

  An oracle has spoken. He provided the date the inaugural meeting of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria was held; the attendance list and the first set of fellows. He expressed his views on the ways to arrive at the best practices in fisheries. It is a must read for every stakeholder.