Fishing Net Gains West Africa community stakeholders workshop in Badagry has come and it is intended to be periodical. The Fishing communities in Badagry who attended the four days event will never be the same again. It was not the daily facilitation by SOFER Initiative and Fisheries and Oceans Canada that was the motivation but according to Hotonu Yemi, one of the participants, "it is the eagerness to see how supposedly abandoned and useless fishing nets could be transformed into useable and sell able items like bags, basket, wall decoration, footmats, footwears and many other things". Mrs Oluwatoyin Peter, another participant, confessed that for many of them the knowledge acquired during the workshop ha opened their eyes to become critical thinkers. Now they understood the negative effects of ghost fishing nets to the water and water animals like fishes, sea turtles etc.
Soffer Initiative, is raising a generation of environmentally positive conscious people. It propagates responsible environmentalism and that spurred the interest in Badagry's potentials. The focus was the coastline and fishing activities along the shores and especcially the attitude towards the discarding of fishing nets, plastics and other harmful objects and it's dangerous effects on marine life.
The first two days involved stakeholders which includes fishermen / women, fishsellers and others. Day three and four was the Fishing Net Gains West Africa Art and Craft workshop which hosted 50 women and youth participants. The project, if carefully harnessed will contribute to self reliance and community sustainability.
Mr E. Sofa, the Executive Director of Stand Out For Environment Restoration (SOFER Initiative) proclaimed that the year 2020 has been a unique year, fuelled by Covid - 19 pandemic, but every team member is undeterred from achieving the set objectives. Mr Sofa enumerated the different goals of The Project but emphasized on the reduction of the economic challenges of women and youths in thecommunity and to raise living standards through ghost gear inspired craft innovations. The Project Manager, Mr Joshua thanked the people of Badagry and said that he was impressed by the turn out during the workshop. Anago Osho is the Fishing Hub Net Project Supervisor at Ilaje Fishing Village Gberefu, and the community Coordinator of the Badagry project.
At the end of the workshop, the participants produced different items like bags, footmats, baskets and many other items. The next question is, how would these items be sold? SOFER Initiative itends to build a Craft Centre in Badagry where tourists or individuals can support and patronize the women by buying their creative craft works made from abandoned fishing nets. An online market will also be created to drive international market to the Craft Centre.
Badagry as an international tourist destination will benefit greatly as the tourists will have a place to buy original souvenirs or crafts that are made in Badagry. It is what is called sustainable tourism and it creates opportunities for the latest innovation in tourism called creative tourism to excel. As the world battles the Covid - 19 pandemic, it is envisaged that Badagry through this project will be the number one destination for creative tourism.
According to Anago Osho, tourism creates a stable and self sustainable community. The environment is the basis for both natural or manmade tourism infrastructures. In coastal and riverine communities the opportunities that creative tourism present is undeniable if well organized and developed.
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