By Jimitota Onoyume 

Nigeria Maritime University, NMU,  Okerenkoko, Delta State has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Law Earth Centre,  United State to establish the Centre for Ocean Research and Protection (CORP) at the NMU,  Okerenkoko.

This is contained in a communique released at the end of the first international conference on blue economy organised by the NMU.

The communique signed by Professor Perekibina A. Bariweni, Chairman, of the  Conference Planning Committee reads : “In a watershed moment for the Nigerian maritime sector, stakeholders from the academia, industry, federal and state government ministries, departments and agencies converged at the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko for the 1st International Conference on Blue Economy with the theme, Harnessing the Blue Economy for Sustainable Development: The Role of the Government, Academia and Industry, which was held from the 16th to 19th of February 2025.

The three-day event which featured two keynote speakers, five lead papers and over eighty presentations from experts, policymakers and participants drawn from various institutions in Nigeria and abroad was marked by rigorous discourse and strategic visioning to reaffirmed the indispensable role of cross-sectoral collaboration in unlocking Nigeria’s ocean wealth for sustainable national growth and development.

The event underscored the need for strategic synergy to harness the blue economy, a sector projected to generate about $6.5 trillion dollars  for Nigeria in the next decade. Positioned at the intersection of opportunity and responsibility, the conference became a clarion call for Nigeria to leverage its maritime ambitions on the global stage in a sector critical to the growth and development of Nigeria with the recent establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by the Federal Government. 

“Setting the tone for a compelling intellectual discourse was a welcome address by Engr. Professor Emmanuel M. Adigio, the Vice Chancellor of the Nigeria Maritime University, which highlighted the transformative power of the blue economy in shaping the economic futures of our country. For Nigeria to thrive, the Vice Chancellor argued that the country must institutionalize “a bi-directional learning and teaching process, where knowledge flows seamlessly between academia, industry practitioners, and policymakers” Professor Adigio described the conference as more than an academic gathering. He said it was “a strategic frame for translating scholarly insights into actionable industry solutions and robust national policies to create a resilient maritime sector capable of sustaining national growth”.

In a keynote that resonated deeply with attendees, Professor Innocent C. Ogwude, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) and Chairman, Council of Registration, Transport Professionals, explored the conference theme: Harnessing the Blue Economy for Sustainable Development. Professor Ogwude identified three core pillars for Nigeria’s maritime ascent: policy alignment and reform ( innovative academic-industry partnerships (c) community engagement. In his keynote address, Dr Awwal Bamanga, from the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Lagos highlighted the need for  a comprehensive marine biodiversity roadmap, climate resilience inclusion in the blue economy discussion and  community-led conservation for marine resources.

In a very engaging panel session, the panellists (Dr Gift Nwachukwu, Director, Institute of Niger Delta Studies, University of Port Harcourt; Dr Ebinimi Joe Ansa, President, Fishery Society of Nigeria; Dr Charles Okorefe, Lecturer, Department of Transport and Nautical Science, Nigeria Maritime University and Dr Awwal Bamanga, Department of Marine Environment Management, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) emphasised the following:

The need to provide the relevant certification for students to enable graduates to be readily available for the manpower required in the industry.

Collaboration between academia, industry, and relevant government agencies is needed to achieve the triple helix concept and sustain the sector.

The need to translate research into actionable data and insights for government and the industry (investors).

Increase maritime security and awareness for maritime development for the blue economy.

Security, the bedrock of any thriving maritime economy, took centre stage in a pivotal presentation by Vice Admiral Emmanuel I. Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff (represented by Rear Admiral Sunday Daniel Atakpa). Addressing the subtheme Maritime Security and Blue Economy: The Nexus, he unpacked the multi-dimensional threats facing Nigeria’s waters. Key issues highlighted included: (a) enhanced naval cooperation and intelligence sharing frameworks to counter piracy threats to the maritime sector and our coastal waters. (b) advancing maritime domain awareness (MDA): deploying real-time surveillance systems for proactive threat detection. (c) protecting maritime infrastructure: safeguarding vital maritime assets crucial to blue economy activities. (d) regional cooperation: strengthening alliances with neighbouring nations to combat transnational maritime crimes. “Maritime security is not optional; it is the bedrock upon which our blue economy ambitions rest”, Ogalla emphasises the need for awareness and research on the main resources in the maritime domain in the coastal areas in each state to attract investment and development from state governors.

Barr. Pius Ukeyima Akutah, Esq, MON, Executive Secretary/CEO of the Nigerian Shipper’s Council (represented by Margaret Chigozie Ogbonnah, Director Regulatory Services), delivered a thought-provoking presentation on Sustainable Shipping Practice and the Future of Port Operations. His discourse centred on the economic and environmental imperatives shaping future shipping practices. Key takeaways included: 

(1) Decarbonizing shipping: Adopting low carbon fuel and energy efficient vessels to meet global emissions targets. 

(2) Green ports and harbours: Developing eco-friendly port infrastructure to reduce carbon footprints. 

(3) Regulatory harmonisation: Aligning Nigeria’s maritime laws with international shipping standards. 

(4) Digitization and optimisation: Embracing smart technologies for efficient cargo management and navigation. 

(5) Capacity Building: Through the investment in human capital, specialised training in sustainable maritime practices. “Sustainable shipping is more than an environmental goal, it is an economic opportunity”, Akutah noted, underscoring the potential for Nigeria to become a hub for sustainable maritime operations. 

The conference also spotlighted Grant Wilson, J.D, Executive Director of the Earth Law Centre, Colorado, United States, who presented a paper on Maritime Governance and Policies. Wilson advocated for the adoption of Earth Law principles in Nigeria’s maritime governance and policies. He advocated for ocean rights as legally recognised rights for the sustainable use of ocean resources, ensuring environmental sustainability alongside economic growth. 

As the conference drew to a close, a unified resolution emerged. Stakeholders pledged to deepen collaborations, refine marine policy frameworks, and boost investment in maritime research and infrastructure. The collective road map includes:

Knowledge-driven policies: By bridging academic research with pragmatic policymaking.

Public-private partnerships: By catalysing private investments in coastal and maritime projects.

Coastal community empowerment: By involving local populations in blue economy value chains for inclusive growth.

Global networking: By aligning Nigeria’s blue economy aspirations with international best practices.

Professorial chairs: Nigeria Maritime University needs to establish professorial chairs in maritime development and blue economy to provide dedicated capacity development and sustain research for the maritime sector. 

A key recorded milestone during the intellectual discourse was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Nigeria Maritime University and the Earth Law Centre, United States, to establish the Centre for Ocean Research and Protection (CORP) at the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State.”