Adegboyega Oyetola, Nigeria’s minister of Marine and Blue Economy, over the weekend, joined world leaders and global dignitaries at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco, held ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France.
The high-level gathering, hosted by Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Grimaldi Forum, brought together key figures including French President Emmanuel Macron, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Discussions centred on accelerating the transition to a regenerative ocean economy, scaling sustainable finance, and aligning science with ocean policymaking.
Oyetola, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the forum, said Nigeria remains committed to the sustainable management of its ocean resources and will continue to engage in science-based, economically viable solutions to safeguard marine ecosystems.
His participation comes as Nigeria intensifies its campaign for re-election to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Council, a move that seeks to strengthen the country’s influence on global maritime policies and maximise its 853 km coastline.
It also reflects the country’s wider ambition to attract foreign investment into its blue economy sector, spanning port infrastructure, marine conservation, coastal tourism, and climate adaptation, which have experienced slow growth.
Oyetola will also seek to form new partnerships in marine finance, conservation, and capacity building across the West and Central African region in light of the country’s bid to launch the National Single Window to boost intra-African trade.
Expectations are building ahead of the Ocean Conference, where key global commitments on marine protection are likely to be announced, and Nigeria will push for visibility.
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