Blue Economy
Coastal Communities Key to Blue Economy Success, Says GMA Founder Onakughotor at Ondo Summit
Coastal Communities Key to Blue Economy Success, Says GMA Founder Onakughotor at Ondo Summit
By Okeoghene Onoriobe | Waterways News Correspondent
The President and Founder of the Global Maritime Academy (GMA), Mr. Ejiro Dennis Onakughotor, has declared that Nigeria’s Blue Economy ambitions can only succeed if coastal communities are placed at the heart of its implementation — and not treated as afterthoughts.
Onakughotor made this assertion at the maiden Maritime Summit on Marine and Blue Economy held in Igboegunrin Kingdom, Ondo State, where traditional rulers, maritime experts, and key government stakeholders gathered to chart a new course for Nigeria’s ocean-based economic future.
Themed “The Marine and Blue Economy Policy and Its Implementation: The Game Changer to the Nigerian Economy,” the summit drew overwhelming support from participants who expressed readiness to help Nigeria harness its vast marine and coastal resources for sustainable national growth.
Grassroots-Driven Development
Describing coastal communities as “the heartbeat of Nigeria’s emerging ocean economy,” Onakughotor argued that investment in the Blue Economy must flow from the ground up. He stressed that the full implementation of Nigeria’s marine and ocean-based development policies must be community-driven to achieve genuine national economic transformation.”This gathering is more than a conference — it is a turning point for coastal development, economic diversification, and inclusive growth,” he said.
“This gathering is more than a conference — it is a turning point for coastal development, economic diversification, and inclusive growth”
He noted that the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy marked a deliberate pivot away from Nigeria’s longstanding oil dependence, aligning the country with a global ocean economy valued at over $1.5 trillion.
Jobs, Infrastructure and Opportunity
Onakughotor cited Federal Government projections of creating three million jobs within four years across fisheries, aquaculture, shipping services, coastal tourism, and maritime security — sectors in which riverine and coastal communities like Igboegunrin stand to benefit most.
He also highlighted planned government investments in smart ports and the dredging of more than 2,000 kilometres of inland waterways, positioning host communities along Nigeria’s water corridors as emerging hubs for maritime transport and logistics.
Onakughotor urged youths in Igboegunrin Kingdom and other coastal areas to proactively acquire relevant skills and position themselves to take advantage of the opportunities ahead.
GMA’s Community-Driven Agenda
As a practical step toward capacity building, the Global Maritime Academy president unveiled a community-driven initiative that includes:
Vocational training for local cadets and youths in marine engineering, shipping management, logistics, and maritime security
Upskilling for artisanal fishers in modern aquaculture practices, sustainable fishing methods, and improved post-harvest handling
Coastal safety and surveillance training to strengthen waterway security for trade, tourism, and community wellbeing
Scholarships for deserving students from Igboegunrin Kingdom to access maritime education and vocational training
Onakughotor also made a passionate appeal to indigenes of Igboegunrin Kingdom — at home and in the diaspora — to support the establishment of a GMA Vocational Centre in the community, describing it as a future hub for skills acquisition, youth empowerment, and long-term economic transformation.
Sustainable Roadmap
The summit outlined a broader development roadmap anchored on integrated coastal management, digital inclusion through port automation and marine technologies, and community-owned eco-tourism designed to preserve local culture while generating income for households.
Closing his remarks, Onakughotor reminded participants that the Blue Economy is ultimately a people-centred agenda — one that directly affects fishermen, students, and local entrepreneurs. He called on all stakeholders to move beyond dialogue and take decisive action in unlocking shared prosperity along Nigeria’s coastlines.
Dignitaries
Prominent figures at the event included the Ondo State Governor, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Marine and Blue Economy, Hon. Olugbemiro Aladenusi; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Oluwasegun Omojuwa; and the royal host, Phillip Olatunji Kalejaye, the traditional ruler of Igboegunrin Kingdom.
Waterways News | Covering Nigeria’s Maritime and Inland Waterways Sector