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Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, advanced Nigeria’s Blue Economy agenda at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where he joined a high-level panel on “Blue Economy – Maritime Sovereignty & Sustainable Valorization.”
The summit gathered African leaders, policymakers, investors and development partners to deepen discussions on innovation, economic growth and strategic collaboration across the continent. The panel also featured France’s Minister of the Sea and Fisheries, Catherine Chabaud, alongside leading maritime stakeholders from 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 Ahmed Tinubu, joined other African leaders at the event, regarded as a major diplomatic and economic engagement signalling a new chapter in Africa-France relations. It also marked the first Africa-France summit hosted in an English-speaking, non-Francophone African country.
The Federal Government has sustained efforts to unlock the vast potential of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy, including the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in August 2023. Since then, the Ministry has recorded significant progress, notably the development of Nigeria’s first National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy to guide sustainable growth in the sector.
Agencies under the Ministry generated a record N1.83 trillion in revenue in the 2025 fiscal year. The Federal Government has also approved a comprehensive port modernization programme aimed at attracting larger vessels, creating jobs and strengthening Nigeria’s position as the leading maritime hub for West and Central Africa.
