Minister of Blue Economy Adegboyega Oyetola
The Director General of International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION), Rear Admiral Thaddeus Udofia, has stressed need for sustainable and competitive blue economy, even as he disclosed a three-day executive programme on Nigeria’s Blue Economy Policy.
The capacity building programme will bring together distinguished faculty of experts led by a renowned academic, Prof. Comfort Etok; a former Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Mfon Usoro; and the immediate-past president of Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA) Funke Agbor.
Udofia said the programme, which is a continuation of its Executive Training Scheme on Blue Economy, is scheduled to hold from April 15 to 17, 2026, at the IMION Auditorium, NNS QUORRA, Harbour Road, Apapa, Lagos. He added that it was designed to strengthen capacity and policy understanding across Nigeria’s maritime and ocean economy ecosystem.
Participants will be exposed to a robust curriculum covering key thematic areas such as the fundamentals of the blue economy, Nigeria’s policy and regulatory landscape, priority sectors and investment opportunities, as well as critical policy challenges.
The programme will also address sustainability and governance imperatives, culminating in a capstone session focused on developing a Strategic Policy Implementation Brief.
According to Udofia, the initiative targets a wide range of stakeholders, including government officials, policymakers, civil society leaders in ocean advocacy, and professionals in ports, logistics, tourism, fisheries, and aquaculture. Academics, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and development partners are also expected to benefit from the programme.
He added the calibre of facilitators reflects its commitment to delivering practical, policy-relevant insights capable of driving Nigeria’s blue economy aspirations at a time when the country is intensifying efforts to unlock the value of its marine resources.
In conclusion, Udofia urged maritime professionals and stakeholders to take advantage of the platform to enhance their expertise, interact with leading authorities, and contribute to shaping a sustainable and competitive blue economy for the country.
