Stakeholders including relevant ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) have collaborated on technology-driven measures to harness the potential of Nigeria’s blue economy.
At a workshop yesterday in Abuja with the theme: “Unlocking the potential of market-ready technological solution for blue economy in Nigeria,” the director- general, National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Dr Olusola Odusanya, said like Philippines, Nigeria can leverage the activities in and around its oceans, seas, and coastal areas by generating over $70 billion yearly to the nation’s economy.
He said that the country’s vast under-utilised blue economy offers huge opportunities for growth and development to overcome its present economic challenge.
He said, “Philippines get $70 billion per annum from its mariners who you find on ships. Hardly do you see a vessel that doesn’t have middle and low-level workers who are from Philippines. There are few Nigerians on vessels across the world. This is just one sector. That is personnel availability. Imagine if we develop all the opportunities.
According to Odusanya, the aim of the workshop is to sensitive stakeholders on the enormous benefits in harnessing the blue economy.
Organised by NACETEM, the event drew participants from the Nigerian Shippers Council, Lagos Inland Waterways, Nigerian Ports Authority, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, National Fish Association of Nigeria, Nigerian Association of Small-scale Industrialists, Raw Materials Research and Development Council, among others.
The NACETEM DG explained that sustainable exploitation of resources in the blue economy can lead to job creation, improved food security, tourism and infrastructure development, green energy, among other benefits.
He said, “For the government to have the vision enough to say this is the direction we want to go, it is commendable. But when it comes to the bolts and nuts, we really need to get ourselves together so that as enablers of government policies, we are ready.”
