Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has said the largely untapped blue economy sector can yield $576 billion annually and create 127 million jobs for Africa by 2063.
Therefore, Kalu urged universities to incorporate hydrospace studies alongside town and cyberspace development, noting that the ivory towers must produce graduates who can solve real-world problems.
The deputy speaker stated this when he delivered a convocation lecture titled “Our Gown in Town and Cyberspace: Sustainable and Human-Centred Education, The Mandate of Our Universities, 2025-2075” at the University of Calabar’s 37th Convocation and 50th Anniversary ceremony in Calabar, Cross River State.
He stressed the need for universities and other institutions of higher learning in the country to move beyond ivory towers and make a tangible impact on the citizenry.
Kalu noted that the universities were established as engines of progress but have often failed to deliver on their core mandate of innovation and problem-solving.
The deputy speaker, a 1998 law graduate of the University of Calabar, recommended updating tertiary education curricula to reflect society’s changing needs.
While emphasising the need for universities to lead in building expertise tailored to the blue economy, Kalu queried, “Why are maritime students not modelling the economic impact of a decentralised port system?”
“Why aren’t logistics departments partnering with fishing communities near Bakassi and Oron to design cold-chain networks? If tomatoes rot in traffic jams heading to Apapa, that’s a 40% price hike in Kano markets—a problem the gown can solve with data and policy blueprints.
“As Africa’s largest economy, Nigeria stands to gain immensely from a thriving Blue Economy, but only if its universities build expertise tailored to the sector. How many institutions currently offer specialised maritime studies, oceanography, or marine engineering programmes?
“Despite these immense opportunities, the sector remains largely untapped due to insufficient investment, inadequate infrastructure, and a lack of specialised knowledge.
“According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Africa’s marine and the coastal sector have the potential to generate over $100 billion in revenue by 2030. Additionally, projections indicate that the continent’s blue economy could yield $576 billion annually and create 127 million jobs by 2063.
“As we strive towards Agenda 2075, our education system must evolve to incorporate hydrospace studies alongside town and cyberspace development. The future is not just on land or in digital frontiers but also the vast, blue wealth surrounding us.
“Our universities must take the challenge of producing the maritime economists, manne scientists, and naval architects who will transform Nigeria into a leading force in Africa’s Blue Economy.”
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