Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, has presented the country’s blue economy agenda at the Africa Forward Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya, as part of efforts to deepen maritime development and international cooperation.
The minister participated in a high-level panel discussion at the summit, which brought together African leaders, policymakers, investors and development partners to explore innovation, sustainable growth and strategic partnerships across the continent.
According to a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Media, Dr Bolaji Akinola, Oyetola spoke on the theme: “Blue Economy: Maritime Sovereignty & Sustainable Valorisation.”
The summit itself was themed: “Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth.”
Oyetola told participants that the Federal Government had continued to introduce deliberate policies aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s vast marine and blue economy potential.
He cited the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in August 2023 as a major policy step designed to drive coordinated sectoral development.
“The ministry has recorded notable milestones, including the development of Nigeria’s first National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, designed to provide a strategic framework for sustainable sectoral growth,” he said.
He also noted that agencies under the ministry had recorded significant revenue growth, generating N1.83 trillion in the 2025 fiscal year.
Oyetola added that the Federal Government had approved a comprehensive port modernisation and upgrade programme expected to attract larger vessels, boost efficiency and create new employment opportunities.
According to him, the initiative would strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa.
The minister further explained that the summit served as a platform for dialogue among African leaders and global partners on advancing innovation and economic transformation.
He said the panel session also featured the French Minister of the Sea and Fisheries, Catherine Chabaud, alongside other maritime stakeholders from across the continent.
Oyetola described the summit, co-hosted by Kenyan President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron, as a landmark diplomatic and economic engagement that also had Nigerian President Bola Tinubu in attendance.
He noted that the event marked a new phase in Africa-France relations, particularly as it was the first time the summit was hosted in an English-speaking African country outside the Francophone bloc.
