Speech delivered by the managing director ,Ogun Oshun River basin Authority ,Engr Akintunde Soyemi,MNSE On the occasion of FIRST TILAPIA HARVEST AT IKERE GORGR DAM on Saturday 23rd January 2016.

President and member of the Tilapia Aquaculture developers association Nigeria 
President and members of Oke Ogun development council 
Management of the Ogun Oshun River basin Authority
Members of the press 
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen 
It is my pleasure to be here today on the occasion of the FIRST TILAPIA HARVEST AT IKERE GORGR DAM by Choice fisheries consult and amolese aquaculture Nigeria ,Ltd at ikere gorge dam .
I am pleased that . Ogun Oshun River basin Development Authority can stand up today with a sense of fulfillment and gratitudes to God that this initiatives embraced in 2014 has turned out successfully ,barely a year after, It is indeed a thing of joy that one of our mandates of promoting fish farming in Nigeria is being delivered here today , in addition to what we have started in oyan dam.
The achievement is a clear demonstration and testimony that the public private partnership policy of the federal government is realistic .It has also shown that this policy is capable of facilitating rapid socio economic development of Nigeria.
In this partnership Ogun oshun River Basin Development Authority has provided its facilities and the enabling investment environment needed for fish farming ,while the private investors have explored these facilities and environment to the benefit of all stakeholders.
According to the investors ,todays havest is the first initiatives by the Tilapia Aquaculture Developers Association Nigeria (TADAN) to promote the culture of producing tilapia in cages in abundant water supply In Nigeria.Permit me to say,however that our authority has since 2011 been partnering with different corporate fish farmers who have invested in cage fish farming on our dams .As at today, the Authority hs four active cooperate farmers using our dams for tilapia and catfish production.
The significance of this development is that concrete efforts are being made to propel Nigeria towards self sufficiency in fish production .It is expected that this would boost food security ,diversity the economy ,provides employment ,enhance protein intake among the people ,promote export and shore up Nigeria Foreign exchange earning.
Let me use this opportunity to assure prospective private investors interested in fish farming that the Federal Government of Nigeria under president Muhammadu Buhari has expressed its commitment to promote Agriculture as a way of diversify the economy and boost food supply and employment .Towards realizing these objectives ,efforts are currently being made to revitalize and reposition the River Basin Authority to play a critical role in this regards .
Accordingly , we shall continue to offer our facilities and collaborate with privates investors to promotes these laudable policy thrust of the government .
We however advice that a synergy should be created between fisheries department of our agricultural research institutes and universities of agriculture nationwide and the importer of fish so as to develop and grow other species of fish . 
We are also committed to making our various dams projects realize their full potential as envisioned in our mission. Specifically , we are already working towards completion of the hydro-power component of the ikere gorge dam by cooperating with investors .We are also working to realize the construction of a dedicated high tension power lines from iseyin t the dam site in ikere and the middle ogun irrigation scheme in order to make these projects and investors benefit from the national grid.There are also efforts to achieve the construction of 28 kilometer access road to the dam from iseyin. In these regards we have commenced gradual asphating of the road from ikere end,as much as our tight budget could allow .All these are challenges which we have contended with over the Years ,but which we hope will be attended to under this present administration.it is expected that once the access road achaten-suisse.com is completed ,among other facilities,more potential of the dam especially tourism would be realized .
I thank the elder of Iseyin for the continuous effort they are making to ensurebthat the objectives for which Ikere Gorge DAM Was set up are actualized .
I congratulates the TilAPIA Aquaculture Developers Association Nigeria (TADAN) and their partners ,locally and internationally for this breakthrough we are withnessing today . I assure you of our continued support and cooperation and I look forwards to seeing more of your success in the months and year to come .I have no doubt in my mind that together we can change the fortune of Nigeria positively for the benfit of all and sundry.
It is on this optimistic note ,distinguished ladies and gentlemen ,that I feel highly honored and privileged to officially flag off this tilapia harvest ,to the Glory of God and for the benefit of Nigerians ,in particular and mankind in general. I thank you all and God Bless.