Stakeholders Call for Stronger Maritime Policies to Unlock Africa’s Blue Economy

Victoria Silvanus

The President of the Women's International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) Nigeria, Dr. Odunayo Ani, has called for stronger collaboration among governments, regulators and industry stakeholders to ensure that Africa’s maritime and Blue Economy policies deliver measurable outcomes that drive inclusive growth, trade expansion and sustainable development.

Ani made the call at the 8th WISTA Africa Regional Conference, hosted by WISTA Nigeria in Lagos under the theme, “From Policy to Progress: Women Delivering Africa’s Shipping and Trade Energy Future.”

She noted that Africa’s Blue Economy presents significant opportunities to strengthen trade corridors, improve maritime connectivity and unlock economic prosperity through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

“Policy must translate into measurable impact, while collaboration must drive innovation. Together, we can build a more resilient, competitive and inclusive maritime industry for Africa,” she said.

Ani also expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), WISTA International and other partners for supporting the conference.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, called for urgent action to eliminate barriers limiting women’s participation in the maritime sector, noting that women are already making significant contributions to the industry's development.

Represented by the ministry’s Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Hajia Kalthum Ibrahim, the minister said the focus should be on creating opportunities for women to enter, thrive and lead within the sector.

“The challenge before us is to remove the barriers that still limit participation and to create the partnerships that enable women to enter, thrive and lead within the industry. We must invest in skills development, strengthen institutions, leverage technology, deepen regional cooperation and create conditions that allow women and young people to contribute meaningfully to the sector’s goals,” he stated.

Also speaking, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to gender inclusion and sustainable growth in the maritime industry.

“NIMASA remains a proud partner of WISTA and will continue to support initiatives that promote gender inclusion, professional excellence and sustainable maritime development. Collaboration among governments, industry stakeholders and professional associations remains essential to unlocking Africa’s maritime potential,” he said.

Delivering the keynote address, maritime strategist and former NIMASA Director-General, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, urged African governments to move beyond policy formulation to practical implementation.

According to him, while the continent has adopted numerous international conventions, regional agreements and maritime strategies, it has yet to fully harness their economic benefits through deliberate execution.

“Africa must deliberately move from signing policies to building institutions, infrastructure and capacity. We must also create greater opportunities for women to participate in maritime leadership because experience has shown that women bring stability to decision-making and are indispensable to the future of Africa’s maritime industry,” Peterside said.

He noted that shipping remains the backbone of global trade and stressed that efficient ports, modern infrastructure, reliable institutions and a skilled maritime workforce are critical to economic growth.

Peterside further described Africa’s transition to a greener maritime industry as an opportunity to modernise ports, strengthen indigenous shipping capacity, develop regional logistics networks, attract green investments and create employment opportunities for young Africans.

He advocated stronger enforcement of maritime policies, improved institutional coordination, increased investment in maritime education and innovative financing mechanisms to enhance Africa’s competitiveness in global shipping.

In his goodwill message, the Oniru of Iru Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II, described the Blue Economy as one of Africa’s greatest opportunities for sustainable development. 

He commended WISTA Africa and WISTA Nigeria for providing a platform that promotes dialogue, collaboration and practical solutions for the maritime sector.

Earlier, Chairperson of the Convention Planning Committee, Dr. Oma Ofodile, described the conference as a historic milestone for WISTA Nigeria. She commended the organising committee, partners and volunteers for delivering a successful event and urged participants to ensure that discussions translate into concrete actions capable of advancing Africa’s maritime industry.

A high-level plenary session titled “From Commitment to Delivery: Maritime Policy, Net-Zero Transitions and Trade in Africa: Bridging the Gap Between What Africa Signs and What Africa Builds” examined practical strategies for transforming Africa’s maritime commitments into tangible development outcomes.

Panelists emphasized the need for sustained investment in port infrastructure, stronger policy implementation, indigenous shipping capacity, regional collaboration, trade facilitation and climate-resilient maritime systems. They agreed that unlocking the full potential of Africa’s Blue Economy would require coordinated action by governments, regulators, the private sector and development partners to strengthen Africa’s position in global shipping and trade.