Ilaje-born Ambassador, Orioye Gbayisemore opens Ilaje fish market in Akure
_…as Rep of the Ondo State Governor, Aribo, Elekun of Ilekun, Omojuwa, Ajaka, Olasanya, others grace the occasion_
Ilaje-born Ambassador of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Orioye Gbayisemore, on Saturday opened Ilaje Fish Market in Akure, the capital city of Ondo State.
The market which is located at Ilekun community along Oda Road, Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State was commissioned on 8th June, 2024 by the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, ably represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry in Ondo State, Hon. Olayato Aribo.
The Managing Director, Ilaje Fish Market, Mr. Orioye Gbayisemore while giving his opening address, thanked the Governor of Ondo State for giving the people of Ondo State enabling environments to carry out their daily activities without any security threat. He also appreciated government officials at the ministry of Agriculture in Ondo State for their mutual cooperation and encouragement.
Ambassador Gbayisemore, while speaking, emphasized the market’s goal, stressed that the vision of the market is to ameliorate the hunger and reduce fish and food prices in Akere town, calling on the government to encourage and support the initiative to triumph.
The Governor of Ondo State who was represented by the Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Hon. Olayato Aribo, hailed the initiative of Ambassador Gbayisemore while he described as a pivotal step towards addressing food security without solely relying on government intervention.
The Governor’s representative reiterated that the government of Ondo State under the leadership of His Excellency, Hon Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is committed food security of the good people of Ondo State, stressed that the establishment of Ilaje Fish Market aligns with the government’s REDEEMED AGENDA Programmes, focusing on food security, livelihood improvement, and healthy living.
In his opening remarks, the Elekun of Ilekun land, HRH Oba Benjamin Omoleewo, expressed his joy over the establishment of the market in his domain, noting that the market would be a driver of community progress and development.
The Chairman of the Food Security Committee in Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Wemimo Akinsola, while speaking, commended the initiative and encouraged community support through patronage.
He notified the gathering that Mr. Governor through the Committee on Food Security, has concluded plan to launch Every Sunday Market to make foods available to the good people of Ondo State at 25% reduction.
In the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Mr. Olugbenga Akingbasote Akinsola, spoke on the importance of utilizing the state’s extensive coastal resources
State Director of Fishery, Mrs. Iyabo Olaleye, applauded the establishment of the fish market, noting that fish contains 78% protein with omega-4 fatty acids, thus underscoring its availability to the masses. She highlighted the market as a means of empowerment to reduce unemployment.
In her own words, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Foluke Daramola, thanked contributors to the market’s success, commending the trade-by-barter initiative as a return to foundational economic principle of Nigeria. She stressed the initiative’s potential to improve nutritional cycles and generate employment, which she promised would receive government attention.
The official commissioning of the market was done by the representative of the Ondo State Governor, Hon. Aribo Olayato alongside with other government functionaries present at the event.
Just immediately after the commissioning of the market, the Managing Director of Ilaje Fish Market, Ambassador Gbayisemore introduced the different species of the fish available in the market to the invited guests as he also took pain to take them round the market stalls.
The Managing Director, Ilaje Fish Market, Ambassador Gbayisemore while speaking with Coastal Renaissance News, gave a brief insight into the vision of the market, stressed that trade by barter style would be carried out in the market. He noted that Ilaje Fish Market market would be established in all the 18 Local Government area of Ondo State to meet the needs of the good people of Ondo State.
Other notable dignitaries who attended the commissioning were the Chief of Staff to the Governor of Ondo State, Prince Segun Omojuwa, Chief Protocol to the Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Abayomi Olasanya, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, former Chief Press Secretary to the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Kenneth Odusola, MHA representing Ilaje Constituency II, Hon. (Mrs.) Wunmi Fayemi-Obayelu, former MHA, Ilaje Constituency II, Hon. Favour Tomomewo, Protocol to the Governor of Ondo State, Barr. George Asonja among others.
