Firm Chief Wants Blue Economy Unlocked To Meet $1trn GDP Target

The chief executive officer of Marine Innovations Hub, Ronke Kosoko, has called for deliberate action to unlock Nigeria’s Blue Economy.

She described it as crucial to achieving President Bola Tinubu’s ambitious $1 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) target.

Kosoko made the call yesterday in Abuja at the Blue Economy Investment Summit Media Parley, organised ahead of the main summit scheduled for March 2026 by the Marine Innovations Hub, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

She said despite Nigeria’s over 850-kilometre coastline and vast maritime resources, the blue economy currently contributes less than three per cent to the nation’s GDP, stressing that the forthcoming summit would focus on execution and measurable outcomes, rather than rhetoric.

According to her, priority areas for investment include port efficiency, shipbuilding, fisheries, coastal tourism, maritime financing, youth employment and gender inclusion, with the overarching aim of mobilising large-scale investments and creating millions of jobs for Nigerians.

Kosoko commended the minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for his emphasis on stakeholder engagement, port reforms, human capital development and private-sector collaboration, noting that these efforts are repositioning Nigeria to become Africa’s leading maritime hub.

She disclosed that international funders are expected to meet with President Bola Tinubu and the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, during the March 2026 summit.

Kosoko explained that the anticipated $1 billion funding commitment followed Nigeria’s earlier success in securing a $100 million training bid for capacity development in the maritime sector.

Also, the senior special adviser To the President on Social Media  Mr Dada Olusegun, called for more accessible policies, stressing that government initiatives should be communicated in clear, relatable terms that young people and the wider public can easily understand, rather than through complex technical language.