When people talk about solving food insecurity, fish is rarely the first thing that comes to mind.
But for millions of families, fish is one of the most affordable and accessible sources of protein, essential nutrients, and healthy fats. It supports livelihoods, improves nutrition, and plays a major role in feeding growing populations, especially in countries like Nigeria.
Yet while the world needs more skilled people in fisheries and aquaculture, fewer young people are choosing the field.
I saw this problem up close.
My name is Oke Ojo Pelumi. I studied Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, and throughout my journey, I noticed a troubling pattern: low awareness, limited exposure, and declining interest among students in a sector that is critical to food security and climate resilience.
It wasn’t that the opportunities didn’t exist.
People couldn’t see them.
That realization led me to start building FishLead Hub: a youth-centered initiative focused on making careers in fisheries, aquaculture, and aquatic sciences visible, accessible, and attractive. Through school outreach, mentorship, industry exposure, training, and practical experiences, we connect students and young graduates to real opportunities in the aquatic food systems sector.
For me, this isn’t just about career guidance.
It’s about building the human capacity needed to secure the future of food.
Building this while balancing academics, personal responsibilities, and leadership hasn’t been easy. Coordinating volunteers, earning credibility, and keeping momentum required resilience. There were moments when I questioned whether it was worth it, especially when we organized webinars with global industry leaders, and only about 10% of members actively attended.
I almost gave up.
But the few who stayed changed my mind. Seeing students become curious, hopeful, and excited about fisheries and aquaculture after engaging with our work reminded me why FishLead Hub exists.
I’ve learned that you don’t need perfect clarity to start.
Clarity grows with action.
Today, FishLead Hub is helping young people see fisheries not just as a course, but as a pathway to impact, livelihoods, and food security.
Because solving food insecurity isn’t only about producing more food.
It’s about inspiring the next generation to lead the systems that feed the world.
This story is part of the Innov8 Student Founders Network, where we spotlight student innovators building solutions that matter.
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