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A former Port Manager at Nigeria’s premier port, Apapa port, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olotu, has admonished African nations to develop ambitious maritime strategies that would spark sustainable development in the region.
Olotu was speaking at a regional summit organised by the Policy Center for the New South in the University Mohammed the VI Polytechnic (UM6P) Rabat, Morocco, recently.
At the event, which was the 2nd edition of group’s Conference-Debate, the Independent Maritime Analyst, Olotu, observed the need for clear policy framework, inter and intra-agency linkages, and frequent assessment and valuation of marine resources.
While concluding her paper titled; “Blue Economy and Maritime Connectivity – Levers of Convergence in Atlantic Africa,” the maritime analyst referenced the Policy Centre for the New South and their slogan: “Think, Stimulate, Bridge”
Her words: “The Center has provided an amazing platform for us to THINK about the vast opportunities in the Blue Economy and not just the shipping or maritime aspect of it.
“This Conference/Debate was conveyed to STIMULATE all attendees and participants out of the docile lethargy of our complacency, while we launch into ambitious strategies that will position Atlantic Africa for impactful incursion into the world order on sustainable developments in our sub-region.
“There is an urgent need for BRIDGES across the Atlantic Africa, for us as a people (and I am using that word intentionally), to leverage on the pillars of Blue Economy to promote commerce, protect our ecosystem, engage our teeming youths, and ensure sustainable development. Atlantic Africa has the capacity to revive Alkebulan and integrate mankind for collective growth and development.”
Olotu highlighted the success stories of some countries in the Atlantic Africa space, and emphasized the need to leverage on Africa’s population, the Atlantic Africa Coastline, natural resources, vibrant youths, rich culture, and traditional languages for networking and collaborative initiatives that will help maximize the potentials of Blue Economy to boost trade intra-continent.
The event themed: “Atlantic Africa, Ambition for Integration and Operationalization Process” focused on the analysis of the geopolitical dynamics of integration and cooperation in the Atlantic Africa and Sahel regions.
Meanwhile, the debate focused on the two major dynamics of cooperation underway in the region, namely: the African Atlantic States Process (AASP), and the process of opening up the Sahel countries.
The conference was a gathering of experts, academics, and practitioners from 21 African countries bordering the Atlantic as well as from the Sahel and this diversity of perspectives was aimed at fostering a nuanced analysis of the challenges, risks, and opportunities of the areas and dynamics studied.
The summit also featured diverse reflections and proposals on ways and means to foster the construction of an integrated and united African Atlantic area.
Submissions were structured around four panels: “How to Build a Unifying Identity for Atlantic Africa,” with discussions focused on themes such as the importance of developing active ownership and support among Atlantic African countries and mapping the political, economic, and strategic opportunities in the region; “Maritime Governance and Knowledge of the Marine Environment in the African Atlantic region” – Here the legal and institutional maritime regulatory frameworks were explored, as well as in-depth knowledge of the marine environment.
Olotu featured in the third panel themed “Blue Economy and Maritime Connectivity as Important Levers of Convergence for Atlantic Africa” as the panelists discussed the impact of Blue Economy on development of the region’s economies and creation of additional growth opportunities.
The final panel focused on structuring projects capable of cementing the ongoing cooperation and integration processes in the Atlantic-African energy connectivity via the Nigeria-Morocco Africa-Atlantic Gas Pipeline viz-a-viz the region’s road and port networks.
