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The Ocean Ambassadors Foundation (OAF) has congratulated the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, on Nigeria’s resounding election into the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Governing Council (Category C), describing the development as a reaffirmation of the nation’s growing leadership and credibility in global maritime affairs.
In a statement issued on Sunday, OAF President, Hon. Olaitan Williams, said the victory is not only a diplomatic milestone but also a strategic opportunity for Nigeria to shape global maritime regulations in ways that directly support national growth, safety, and competitiveness.
“We warmly congratulate Dr. Oyetola for the masterful coordination, vision, and diplomacy that delivered this win for Nigeria.
“This election signals the confidence of the international maritime community in Nigeria’s reform agenda, its capacity to contribute meaningfully to global shipping conversations, and its commitment to a safer, greener, and more efficient maritime future.”
Williams noted that Nigeria’s return to the IMO Council comes at a critical period when the nation is pushing major reforms across port efficiency, maritime safety, decarbonisation, blue economy development, and seafarer capacity-building.
“With this new status, Nigeria must aggressively leverage its seat to advance interests that directly improve our maritime ecosystem,” she added.
OAF highlighted key benefits Nigeria should strategically pursue at the IMO, including: influencing regulatory debates on decarbonisation, port state control, international shipping safety, and maritime technology adoption.
She equally noted the need for the nation to deepen support for maritime education and seafarer development, especially through IMO technical cooperation programmes.
The OAF President noted that the new status could be optimised to attract greater international collaboration and funding for port modernization, maritime security initiatives, and blue economy projects.
Hon. Williams reiterated OAF’s readiness to support the Ministry in driving ocean literacy, youth maritime education, and capacity-building initiatives that position Nigeria for long-term gains from its IMO Council tenure.
“This victory is an important step, but the work ahead is even more critical. Nigeria must maximise every inch of this opportunity,” she said.
Williams further applauded the Ministry, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and all industry stakeholders who contributed to the successful campaign.
“Nigeria’s voice is back where it should be at the centre of global maritime governance,” she concluded.
