Former Tunisian prime minister Mehdi Jomaa is expected to join governors and other dignitaries from Nigeria’s Niger Delta next week for the maiden edition of the Niger Delta Blue Economy Summit.
In a statement issued in Uyo on Tuesday, the summit’s co-convener, Dr Uche Igwe, said the event would seek to chart a new course for sustainable prosperity in the oil-rich region by tapping into its vast blue economy potential.
Igwe said the summit would move beyond speeches and broad declarations, aiming instead to develop concrete solutions that ensure coastal communities are not left out of future development plans.
Jomaa, who will deliver the keynote address, is expected to share Tunisia’s experience of converting its Mediterranean coastline into economic opportunities through maritime trade, tourism and other blue economy initiatives.
The organisers said the summit would also work with government agencies and institutions to develop a coordination framework through a Niger Delta Blue Economy Masterplan, while leveraging emerging blue financing opportunities to mobilise resources for implementation.
“We are looking at a ten-year plan in the first instance,” Igwe said. “We will create at least 100,000 direct and indirect jobs per annum through multiple sectors. We will leverage ongoing blue financing possibilities by matching the best ideas with resources to implement.”
He added that the summit would collaborate with regional bodies including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), state governments and private sector platforms.
Governors from all Niger Delta states, along with chief executives of key government institutions in the region, are expected to attend.
Meanwhile, a member of the organising committee, Emmanuel Ukpong, praised Akwa Ibom state governor Umo Eno for what he described as bold steps in promoting the blue economy, pointing to the Ibom deep seaport project in Ibaka, Mbo local government area, as a major example.
