President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday unveiled an ambitious plan to create five million ocean-based jobs by 2035, positioning Nigeria at the forefront of Africa’s emerging blue economy and signalling a major shift in the country’s economic diversification strategy.
Addressing world leaders and maritime stakeholders at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, Tinubu declared that Nigeria would leverage its vast marine resources to drive employment, boost food security, expand trade and unlock new sources of national wealth.
Represented by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, the President announced that Nigeria had already launched a National Blue Economy Action Plan aimed at transforming fisheries, shipping, maritime tourism and renewable energy into key pillars of economic growth.
“We pledge to create five million new ocean-based jobs by 2035, prioritising youth and women,” Tinubu said.
The declaration marks one of the most ambitious employment targets announced by the administration and underscores Abuja’s determination to harness the economic potential of Nigeria’s 853-kilometre coastline and strategic position in the Gulf of Guinea.
Tinubu said the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2023 was a deliberate move to place maritime development at the centre of Nigeria’s economic future.
The President argued that Africa’s oceans remain one of the continent’s most underutilised assets and called for greater investment, technology transfer and financing to help coastal nations unlock their marine wealth.
He also pledged to expand marine protected areas by 2030, restore half of Nigeria’s degraded mangroves and champion efforts to eliminate single-use plastics across Africa.
Beyond economic growth, Tinubu linked maritime development to regional security, highlighting Nigeria’s role in reducing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea through enhanced naval capabilities, surveillance systems and 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 nations to work together to combat illegal fishing, tackle marine pollution and strengthen maritime security, warning that the prosperity of millions of people across the continent depends on the health and sustainability of ocean resources.
The conference, attended by government leaders, development partners and environmental experts from around the world, is focused on advancing global commitments towards sustainable ocean governance and climate resilience.