MONROVIA. Montserrado – Twenty-five staff members of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority who recently benefited from a month-long training in China have returned to the country.

The NaFAA staff who were part of the training program included 10 females and 15 males. They are John Pekey Glayflor, Jr., Tete Babyte Doe, Patience Wilson Kennedy, Zubah Kollie Yennego, Anthony F. Williams, Yarkpawolo Kpasaquio Johnson, Oscar Dargbah Daryoue, John S. Morley, Fred B. Wright, Glanedea Nancy Kolleh, Rachel Leela Suah, and Zoe Yarwhere.

Others were Emmanuel Tony Hallawangar, Tony Bright Cole Jr., Richard Nelson Kargbo, George Adtudu Armah, Alice Bropleh Weah, Deborah Tarmen Armah, Annette M. Johnson, Abraham M. Johnson, and Monibah Leo Keymah.

Following their arrival into the country on Monday, August 19, Emma Glassco, NaFAA’s director-general, commended the Chinese government for remaining committed to its pledge of bridging capacity gaps by ensuring the manpower development of Liberians.

A NaFAA press statement dated Monday, August 25 and signed by its communication manager Lewis Konoe said the month-long training focused on marine culture.

“The training of the 25 staff has created a window of opportunities as those trained are now capacitated to train other Liberians into basic fisheries skills, particularly marine culture,” Glassco was quoted as saying.

Tete Babyte Doe, a spokesperson for the beneficiaries, explained that their trip to China was an eye-opener that afforded them “the opportunity to gather information that would be used to adequately enhance development in the Liberian fisheries sector.”

In July 2019, the 25 NaFAA employees departed the country for China. The training was aimed at enhancing the participants’ theoretical knowledge and practical skills, strengthening the friendly exchanges between China and Liberia, and expanding cooperation between the two countries in the marine fisheries sector.

The training held at the Fujian Institute of Oceanography located in Xiamen City. It focused on culture technology for fish, shrimps, shellfish, and crabs, which was conducted through lectures, teaching practice, and field trips.

Featured photo courtesy of NaFAA