Morgan Smart Development Foundation Partners French Embassy in the Construction of Chorkor Fish Smoking Ovens for Women in Edo, Ondo States

In actualizing the commitment of the Morgan Smart Development Foundation to economic empowerment of poor women in the Niger Delta, it has partnered with the French Embassy in Nigeria through the Social Development Funds (SDF) in the construction of 20 improved Chorkor Fish Smoking Ovens for 300 rural women in coastal fish communities in Edo and Ondo States.

The benefiting communities are Siluko, Iguorhiaki, Gbeoba, Ikoro, Gelegele, Iboro, Aihuaobabekun, Aigbomonba, Aimieghorwan, Evbogun in Ovia South West Government area of Edo State, and Awoye, Muluthein, Odofado, Arenewo, Akinsolu-Gbagiri, Ikorigho, Ojumole, Osamirigho, Mese, Bowoto all located in Ilaje Local Government Areas of Ondo State.

The Project is to improve income generation and provide economic empowerment for the rural women through the use of alternative, effective and efficient fish processing tools. The women in these communities presently use traditional smoking kilns that are low in production capacities and work related health risk from smoke inhalation and burns.

The introduction of the Chorkor Fish Smoking Oven is a better alternative as it is developed from appropriate technology, built from local material and is inexpensive to maintain. Its production capacity can get up to 300 smoked fishes at a time, while the better quality product will attract higher price and will contribute to increase incomes and the value chain that is associated with the increase in production.

The Morgan Smart Foundation is planning to deploy this local technology and other appropriate local technology to boast production and income generation, across the Niger Delta within the next 3 years with adequate funding. The Partnership counterpart funding from the French Embassy SDF is for the sum of €46, 667, 00 over a period of 2years.

The Morgan Smart Development Foundation is a non- profit organization dedicated to the socio- economic empowerment of vulnerable women and youths in Nigeria especially the Niger Delta Region.