By Naomi Sharang
Maritime Innovations Hub has called for sustained and large-scale investment in Nigeria’s economy.
The Chief Executive Officer of Maritime Innovations Hub, Ronke Kosoko made the call during a media parley organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Marine and Blue economy held in Abuja on Monday.
Kosoko said that innovation and effective execution of the blue economy were critical to achieving President Bola Tinubu’s target of a one trillion dollar GDP.
She said that Nigeria had lost decades of growth due to policy inconsistency, weak execution, and entrenched interests, particularly in the maritime sector.
She said that in spite of Nigeria’s vast coastline and inland waterways, the sector had delivered far below its job-creation and revenue potential.
Kosoko highlighted recent progress under the current administration, including a one billion dollar port rehabilitation programme, approval of the Bakassi Deep Sea Port and revival of maritime studies at the University of Lagos.
She said Nigeria’s return to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council after 40 years was also a major success.
“These signal a renewed commitment to reform, private-sector participation, and results-driven governance,” she said.
Kosoko also announced plans for a Blue Economy Investment Summit, aimed at mobilising local and international capital, addressing logistics and port inefficiencies, and unlocking opportunities across shipping, fisheries and aquaculture.
“The summit will bring together federal and state governments, investors, development partners and industry players to develop an actionable investment roadmap,” she said.
The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, underscored the importance of digital platforms in promoting the blue economy.
Olusegun said that social media was vital for engaging young Nigerians, simplifying policy messages, building digital communities around jobs and investment opportunities and inspiring participation through visible role models.
He said that social media was now central to governance and national development.
He said that the success of the blue economy depended on young people understanding and active engagement with opportunities in maritime, logistics and related sectors.(NAN)
Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman
