ECOWAS-trained youths in Anambra State have launched a new commercial fish farming partnership following the signing of a franchise agreement aimed at increasing aquaculture production, creating jobs and improving food security in the state.
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The agreement was signed between Elite Cooperative Society Limited and TeeMartins ICT Limited for the deployment of the TAENPROWIZ Fish Production Business System and Technology, a commercial aquaculture model designed for industrial-scale fish production.
The signing ceremony took place in Awka with support from the Fisheries and Aquaculture Business Development Agency (FABDA), as stakeholders described the initiative as part of broader efforts to strengthen youth entrepreneurship and local fish production across the region.
President of Elite Cooperative Society Limited, Mr. Chukwuma Onyekwe, signed the agreement on behalf of the cooperative, while the Managing Director of TeeMartins ICT Limited, Mr. Cosmas Ezenwanne, represented the franchisor.
Members of the cooperative are beneficiaries of the ECOWAS Youth Training on TAENPROWIZ Table Fish Production Business programme conducted in 2023 and 2024 under the ECOWAS Youth Employability and Entrepreneurship initiative.
The partnership is expected to help the cooperative move from small-scale fish farming into a more structured and technology-driven commercial production system focused on efficiency and scalability.
Coordinator of the TAENPROWIZ Production Partnership Centre, Mr. Emeka Iloghalu, described the agreement as a major step toward expanding aquaculture opportunities for young people in Anambra and across the ECOWAS region.
“The cooperative earned the franchise opportunity after demonstrating commitment and readiness for business following the training programme,” he said.
According to him, the ECOWAS Youth Employability and Entrepreneurship initiative was created to equip young people with practical fish production and business management skills that can support long-term economic growth.
He added that further training was organised in collaboration with the Anambra State Ministry of Industry and the Office of the Director of Cooperatives to improve cooperative management, sustainability and business operations.
Iloghalu revealed that the programme produced six table fish production cooperatives, with Elite Cooperative Society Limited becoming the first to sign the franchise agreement.
“This contract enables them to operate professional fish production using modern technology and business structures,” he said.
He also noted that Anambra State is working toward increasing fish production capacity to achieve local sufficiency and support future industrial demand.
Speaking after the signing, Onyekwe described the agreement as a major milestone for members of the cooperative.
“It has been a challenging journey since we started, but we believe the system and technology will help us achieve our vision in commercial fish production,” he said.
Also speaking, Ezenwanne said the franchise model would improve productivity through precision-based fish farming technology and expressed confidence that more cooperatives would adopt the system in the coming years.
