L-R: Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola; former Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Jim Ovia; Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Chairman of BUA Group, Mr. Abdul Samad Rabiu, at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday.
Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has amplified Nigeria’s push for a thriving blue economy at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, where he participated in a high-level panel on “Blue Economy — Maritime Sovereignty & Sustainable Valorisation”.
The summit convened African leaders, policymakers, investors, and development partners to deepen conversations around innovation, economic expansion, and strategic continental partnerships. The panel featured prominent voices in the maritime space, including France’s Minister of the Sea and Fisheries, Catherine Chabaud, alongside other key stakeholders from across Africa.
Co-hosted by William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron, the summit was held under the theme “Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth”.
Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, joined fellow African leaders at the event, which is being widely seen as a defining diplomatic and economic milestone – marking a new phase in Africa-France relations as the first summit of its kind hosted in an English-speaking, non-Francophone African nation.
Nigeria’s Federal Government has sustained momentum in unlocking the vast opportunities within the marine and blue economy sector. A key step in this direction was the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in August 2023, a move that has since catalyzed strategic reforms and sectoral growth.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola (left) and French Minister of the Sea and Fisheries, Catherine Chabaud at the Summit.
Among its major achievements is the development of Nigeria’s first-ever National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, providing a comprehensive framework for sustainable development and long-term value creation across the sector.
Agencies under the Ministry have also posted record-breaking performance, generating an impressive N1.83 trillion in revenue in the 2025 fiscal year.
Additionally, the Federal Government has approved a far-reaching port modernisation and upgrade programme aimed at accommodating larger vessels, creating jobs, and reinforcing Nigeria’s leadership as a maritime hub in West and Central Africa.