Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, has urged Nigeria to align with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of the Blue Economy as a key driver of national prosperity.

Adeyeye made the call on Thursday while delivering a lecture at the maiden public lecture of the Centre for Blue Economy and Innovation, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State. His lecture, titled “Imperative of the Blue Economy in Driving Nigeria’s Economic Development,” highlighted the vast potential of Nigeria’s marine and water resources.

He described the Blue Economy as the sustainable use of ocean and water resources to create jobs, boost livelihoods, and preserve aquatic ecosystems. According to him, with over 853 km of coastline, more than 200 nautical miles of exclusive economic zone, navigable inland waterways, and rich marine biodiversity, Nigeria is uniquely positioned to benefit but has yet to fully develop the sector.

Citing UNDP data, Adeyeye noted that the global Blue Economy is valued at $2.3 trillion annually and sustains over three billion people worldwide. “Nigeria cannot afford to miss her share of this wealth,” he warned, pointing out that Morocco generates fisheries revenue almost equivalent to Nigeria’s national budget.

He identified key components of the Blue Economy as maritime transport, port services, fisheries and aquaculture, offshore renewable energy, tourism, seabed mining, marine biotechnology, shipbuilding, and coastal agriculture. Adeyeye stressed that with untapped offshore wind, tidal, and wave energy, Nigeria could produce cheaper and cleaner power for domestic use and export to West Africa.

Ondo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami, represented by Deputy Chief of Staff Adekola Falodun, called on stakeholders to support government efforts to harness the sector.

Also speaking, OAUSTECH Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, said the university had aligned with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through its School of Maritime Transport and Logistics to produce skilled manpower for the sector. He urged Ondo State to domesticate the initiative by creating a Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Resources to drive coastal development.

Earlier, Director of the university’s Centre for Blue Economy and Innovation, Prof. Funmilola Agbebi, described the lecture as an opportunity to explore how Nigeria can balance economic growth, social inclusion, collaboration, and environmental sustainability while tapping into its marine resources.