A new initiative by the international research organization, WorldFish, aims to create or enable 25,000 dignified jobs for women and young people in Nigeria and Tanzania by June 2028, focusing on fisheries, aquaculture, feed innovation and the development of sustainable aquatic food systems.
The initiative, known as Catalyzing Sustainable Fisheries for Job Creation: Feed Innovation, Aquaculture Intensification, and Waste Valorization in Nigeria and Tanzania, will run from July 2026 to June 2028. It seeks to expand economic opportunities across the fish value chain while improving productivity, reducing post-harvest losses and supporting small businesses.
According to WorldFish, Africa’s fish market is worth an estimated $22 billion annually, with demand continuing to grow. However, many women and young people who dominate fish processing, trading and distribution remain concentrated in informal, lower-income activities.
The project intends to address these challenges by improving access to technical skills, financing, equipment, technology and markets, enabling participants to establish viable enterprises and secure more sustainable incomes.
The initiative forms part of the wider Women and Youth Economic Empowerment in Fisheries Program, a partnership involving the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), TradeMark Africa and the Mastercard Foundation.
Expanding opportunities across the fish value chain
WorldFish plans to promote affordable fish feed production by developing and testing lower-cost feed formulations and alternative ingredients. The approach is expected to reduce production expenses for fish farmers while creating business opportunities for women and young entrepreneurs involved in manufacturing and supplying feed.
The project will also strengthen hatcheries, improve fish seed systems and promote climate-smart aquaculture practices. Farmers and service providers will receive training to improve production and manage risks.
Further interventions will target fish processing and preservation through improved drying and smoking technologies and stronger cold-chain systems. These measures are expected to reduce spoilage and enable traders and processors to sell more of their products.
The initiative will additionally support enterprises that convert fish waste into useful products, while digital tools will improve access to training, market information, financial services and traceability systems.
In Nigeria, the programme will cover Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states, alongside activities in Tanzania.
Nigeria strengthens partnership with WorldFish
The initiative comes as Nigeria deepens its cooperation with WorldFish to transform its aquatic food systems and unlock the economic potential of its blue economy.
According to SeafoodSource, the Nigerian government and WorldFish signed a hosting agreement on October 2, 2026, establishing a framework for the organisation to develop a country office and strengthen collaboration on sustainable aquatic resource management, nutrition, employment and economic growth.
Nigeria currently spends an estimated $1 billion annually on fish imports to meet domestic demand, highlighting opportunities to expand local aquaculture production and reduce reliance on imported fish.
Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said stronger aquaculture systems, improved productivity and enterprise development would be essential to meeting growing fish demand while generating employment and income.
WorldFish Director General Essam Yassin Mohammed said Nigeria had significant untapped potential to develop its aquatic food systems through innovation, research and partnerships.
The new jobs initiative complements these broader ambitions by supporting enterprises and strengthening livelihoods across the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
WorldFish expects the programme to contribute to a wider effort targeting approximately 242,000 job opportunities for women and young people and a $100 million increase in regional fish trade by 2028.
