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BluerAfrica has announced the commencement of applications for the 2026 edition of its flagship BluerAfrica Ocean Advocates Training (BOAT) Fellowship, a pan-African initiative designed to build a new generation of ocean advocates while tackling the growing challenge of sea blindness through education, advocacy and community engagement.
Applications are now open under two specialised streams, inviting educators, youth leaders, researchers, media practitioners, indigenous leaders and coastal changemakers from across Africa to acquire the knowledge, skills and networks needed to promote ocean literacy and sustainable marine governance.
Speaking on the launch of the fellowship, the Executive Director of BluerAfrica, Priscilla Ibadin, said the 2026 BOAT Fellowship is designed to train teachers and community stewards in ocean literacy, strengthen the dissemination of ocean knowledge in classrooms and local communities, build a regional network of ocean-literate leaders and promote ocean education in indigenous West African languages.
According to her, participants will undertake an intensive eight-week virtual curriculum delivered through five structured learning modules, complemented by live Saturday webinars, peer-learning sessions and expert engagement.
She added that each fellow will develop a capstone action and community mobilisation plan aimed at translating knowledge into measurable local impact, while beneficiaries will also receive post-fellowship support through a growing alumni network to sustain collaboration and expand ocean literacy initiatives across the continent.
Speaking further on the initiative, BluerAfrica’s Country Director for Nigeria, Yetunde Olori-Oladipo, said the fellowship is expected to address the persistent problem of sea blindness in Nigeria by raising awareness of the country’s vast marine environment and encouraging greater public appreciation of the ocean’s role in national development, climate resilience and economic prosperity.
She explained that the programme will also empower coastal communities with the knowledge and capacity to champion sustainable management of marine resources while equipping educators to introduce ocean literacy into classrooms and expose students to the enormous career opportunities available across the blue economy sector.
“The BOAT Fellowship is more than a training programme. It is a movement to build informed ocean champions who will inspire action, influence policy, strengthen coastal resilience and prepare the next generation to explore the immense opportunities within the maritime industry and the blue economy,” she said.
The fellowship, which is offered free of charge, will run as an intensive eight-week virtual programme bringing together participants from across Africa for expert-led learning, mentorship and collaborative engagement.
The Ocean Teachers Stream is designed for teachers, lecturers and aspiring educators committed to integrating ocean literacy into classrooms and learning environments, helping students understand the importance of healthy oceans while introducing them to careers in shipping, fisheries, marine science, offshore energy, ocean technology, port operations and other blue economy professions.
The Ocean Stewards Stream is targeted at indigenous youth leaders, community advocates, media practitioners, researchers and coastal changemakers working to protect marine ecosystems, strengthen community-led ocean governance and promote environmental sustainability.
The fellowship is endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade, PCCB Network and IOC-UNESCO BlueThread, underscoring its growing international recognition as a platform for nurturing Africa’s next generation of ocean leaders.
Successful participants will receive an internationally recognised Certificate of Completion, become part of an expanding network of ocean advocates and gain opportunities to access funding for community-based cascade projects aimed at extending the impact of the fellowship across Africa.
Interested applicants can submit their applications via https://tinyurl.com/BOATFellowship.
Further information about the fellowship is available at https://www.bluerafrica.org/fellowship, while organisations interested in partnering with the initiative can register via https://tinyurl.com/BOATPARTNERS.
BluerAfrica encouraged qualified candidates from across Africa to seize the opportunity to become part of a transformative movement advancing ocean literacy, protecting marine ecosystems and unlocking the immense socio-economic potential of Africa’s blue economy.
