President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has unveiled an ambitious plan to generate five million ocean-based jobs by 2035, positioning Nigeria as a leading player in Africa’s emerging blue economy and reinforcing the administration’s economic diversification agenda.
Speaking at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, on Wednesday, the President said Nigeria would harness its vast marine resources to drive employment, strengthen food security, expand trade, and create new sources of national wealth.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, announced that the Federal Government had launched a National Blue Economy Action Plan designed to transform fisheries, maritime transport, tourism, and renewable energy into major drivers of economic growth.
“We pledge to create five million new ocean-based jobs by 2035, prioritising youth and women,” the President stated.
The target represents one of the administration’s most significant employment commitments and highlights efforts to maximise the economic potential of Nigeria’s 853-kilometre coastline and strategic location along the Gulf of Guinea.
According to Tinubu, the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2023 was a deliberate step towards placing maritime development at the centre of the country’s long-term economic strategy.
The President noted that Africa’s oceans remain among the continent’s most underutilised assets and called for increased investment, technology transfer, and financing to enable coastal nations to unlock the full value of their marine resources.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to environmental sustainability, pledging to expand marine protected areas by 2030, restore 50 per cent of the country’s degraded mangrove ecosystems, and champion efforts to eliminate single-use plastics across Africa.
Beyond economic development, Tinubu linked the blue economy agenda to regional security, highlighting Nigeria’s contributions to reducing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea through enhanced naval capacity, surveillance systems, and stronger regional cooperation.
“Our ocean is our common heritage and its future depends on the collective action we take today,” he said.
The President urged African countries to intensify collaboration in combating illegal fishing, addressing marine pollution, and strengthening maritime security, warning that the livelihoods and prosperity of millions across the continent depend on the sustainable management of ocean resources.
The 11th Our Ocean Conference brought together government leaders, development partners, maritime stakeholders, and environmental experts from around the world to advance commitments on sustainable ocean governance, marine conservation, and climate resilience.
