By Seun Ibiyemi
Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has taken the country’s blue economy campaign to the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where he joined a high-level panel discussion focused on maritime sovereignty and sustainable development.
The panel session, themed “Blue Economy — Maritime Sovereignty & Sustainable Valorization,” brought together African leaders, investors, policymakers and development partners to deliberate on strategies for harnessing the continent’s marine resources for economic growth and sustainability.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola (left) and French Minister of the Sea and Fisheries, Catherine Chabaud at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday.
The summit, co-hosted by William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron, was held under the theme “Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth.”
It also featured participation from Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alongside other African leaders and global stakeholders.
The event has been described as a significant diplomatic and economic engagement aimed at deepening Africa-France relations, particularly as it marked the first Africa-France summit hosted in an English-speaking, non-Francophone African country.
Speaking during the session, Oyetola highlighted ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to unlock the vast potential of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy sector through strategic reforms and investments.
According to the Ministry, the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in August 2023 was part of deliberate efforts to reposition the sector as a major driver of economic growth and diversification.
The Ministry noted that one of its major achievements since inception is the development of Nigeria’s first National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, aimed at providing a strategic framework for sustainable growth within the sector.
It also disclosed that agencies under the Ministry generated a combined revenue of N1.83 trillion in the 2025 fiscal year, reflecting improved operational performance across the maritime sector.
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In addition, the Federal Government has approved a comprehensive port modernisation and upgrade programme expected to attract larger vessels, create jobs and strengthen Nigeria’s status as the leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa.
The panel discussion also featured Catherine Chabaud and other maritime stakeholders from across Africa.
