On the margins of her field mission in Nigeria and following the courtesy call on the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dr Sylla KALILOU on 24th November 2025, the Deputy Director for the Sub-Saharan Africa of the Spanish Cooperation Head office (Madrid), Mrs. Ximena Sartori and her team went to visit the Regional Center of Excellence in Aquaculture in Abuja. Both delegations (ECOWAS and Spanish Cooperation) met and discussed with the Executive Secretary of the Centre and his team in the afternoon of 27th November 2025.

The Center is benefiting from a support from ECOWAS and The Spanish Cooperation focusing on inclusion, enhancing women leadership in agriculture and gender sensitive approach, particularly in fish production. Women’s capacities are built through trainings and stepped down to other women in rural areas.

During the tour, delegates observed demonstrations at the Black Soldier Fly production unit, which provides an innovative, affordable, and sustainable alternative protein source for fish feed and the Recirculating Aquaculture System for intensive fish production, designed to support modern, high-efficiency aquaculture models.

The visit ended with a tour to the TV and Radio studio facilities, which support outreach, knowledge dissemination, and visibility for agricultural innovations within the Council and the Center.

Going forward, the Regional Centre of Excellence in Aquaculture will be implementing a pillar of the project (2026-2027) “Women Empowerment in Aquaculture in the ECOWAS Region” which is the pilot project funded by the Spanish Cooperation through ECOWAS focusing on strengthening women’s leadership for sustainable food security and inclusive rural employment through aquaculture.