OAUSTECH Urges Nigeria to Anchor Blue Economy on Skills, Policy Alignment and SME Inclusion
Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) has called for deliberate investment in human capital, stronger institutional coordination and deeper inclusion of local enterprises as Nigeria positions itself to unlock the vast potential of the blue economy.
The call was made on Tuesday, March 4, 2026, during the university’s 9th Convocation Lecture in Okitipupa, Ondo State, delivered by President of the Caribbean Maritime University, Professor Andrew Spencer.
Speaking on the theme, “Strategies for Developing Blue Economy in Nigeria: Lessons from the Caribbean,” Professor Spencer advanced what he described as the “Three Cs” framework — Capacity, Coherence and Collaboration — as the foundation for building a sustainable and sovereign ocean-based economy.
Human Capital Before Hardware
Professor Spencer argued that infrastructure alone cannot guarantee economic independence, drawing from the Caribbean’s experience with port modernisation since the late 1990s.
According to him, while Caribbean states successfully expanded ports and attracted global shipping lines through public-private partnerships, insufficient parallel investment in maritime education and technical expertise created structural dependence on foreign operators.
“Ports, vessels and digital systems create opportunity only when nations possess the skills to operate, regulate and improve them,” he said.
He stressed that maritime universities and training institutions must be treated as strategic national assets, producing seafarers, logisticians, policymakers and researchers capable of managing the entire maritime value chain.
Citing the 2024 Tracer Study of the Caribbean Maritime University, Spencer noted that 45 per cent of graduates secured employment before graduation, 71 per cent within six months, and 81 per cent within nine months — outcomes he attributed to strong industry alignment and practice-driven training.
For Nigeria, he maintained, blue economy ambitions would only succeed if matched by sustained investment in maritime education and institutional competence.
Ending Fragmented Ocean Governance
The convocation lecturer also warned against fragmented governance, describing it as a structural constraint in managing interconnected ocean systems.
He observed that in the Caribbean, maritime governance often evolved along national lines despite shared ecosystems and trade routes, resulting in uneven enforcement, siloed data systems and reactive policymaking.
While acknowledging the coordinating role of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Spencer noted that the region did not fully mature into a unified operational system for managing ocean space.
Turning to Nigeria, he highlighted the strategic significance of the Gulf of Guinea, describing it as one of Africa’s most economically important maritime zones, underpinning offshore energy production, fisheries, global trade and security.
“In a region as resource-intensive and strategically exposed as the Gulf of Guinea, fragmentation would magnify risks rather than contain them,” he warned, adding that coherence across institutions, policies and jurisdictions is foundational to a functional blue economy.
Integrating SMEs into Maritime Value Chains
On collaboration, Professor Spencer said economic growth in the blue economy would not translate into broad-based prosperity unless local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were embedded in high-value activities.
He noted that in several Caribbean states, increased cargo volumes and international connectivity did not automatically result in domestic value capture, as many SMEs remained at the margins of global maritime value chains.
Using Jamaica’s Special Economic Zones model as an example, he explained that integrating SEZs with ports and logistics corridors helped reduce barriers that had historically excluded local enterprises from infrastructure and global markets.
For Nigeria, he recommended deliberate integration of Nigerian-owned SMEs into logistics support, vessel services, maintenance, bunkering, fisheries processing and coastal tourism services to ensure inclusive and resilient growth.
A Question of Ownership and Sovereignty
In his conclusion, Professor Spencer said Nigeria possesses the scale, foresight and institutional depth to shape regional ocean governance but must act strategically.
“The question is not whether the blue economy will grow, but who will own it, who will govern it and who will benefit from it,” he stated.
Professor Spencer, who joined the Caribbean Maritime University as President in September 2022, is a tourism strategy scholar and recipient of Jamaica’s Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander.
The lecture formed part of activities marking OAUSTECH’s 9th Convocation Ceremony.
