Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Cross River State has moved to secure a strategic stake in Nigeria’s fast-growing blue economy, with Governor Bassey Edet Otu launching a World Bank-supported upskilling programme aimed at building a globally competitive maritime workforce.
The programme, unveiled at the State Library Complex in Calabar, is designed to equip residents with modern technical skills needed to tap into the state’s vast marine and coastal resources, as Nigeria intensifies efforts to diversify its economy through the blue economy.
Speaking through his deputy, Dr. Peter Odey, Governor Otu described the initiative as a critical economic intervention that aligns skills development with long-term investment opportunities in the maritime sector.
“This programme is a landmark opportunity for our young people to acquire the advanced technical skills needed to unlock the vast marine resources of Cross River State,” Otu said. “The time has come for Cross River to take its rightful place in the maritime sector.”
He noted that Nigeria’s maritime and marine economy contributed an estimated N113.5 trillion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product in the third quarter of 2025, underscoring the commercial importance of the sector.
The governor also cited projections by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, valuing Nigeria’s blue economy potential at over $296 billion.
“With figures like these, we cannot afford to stand on the sidelines,” Otu said. “Cross River must lead from the front.”
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering key maritime infrastructure, particularly the proposed Bakassi Deep Seaport. He disclosed that a $3.5 billion investment has already been secured for the project, which is awaiting presidential approval for commencement.
“We are ready,” he said. “We will continue to work closely with the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to ensure our waterways, ports, fisheries and logistics platforms deliver maximum economic impact.”
The event drew representatives from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the World Bank, the University of Calabar and other stakeholders across the maritime value chain, highlighting strong intergovernmental and institutional collaboration.
In his remarks, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Marine and Blue Economy, Prof. Busayo Fakinlede, commended Cross River State for aligning early with national blue economy priorities.
“Cross River has always been a strategic leader,” Fakinlede said. “Its rich biodiversity and coastal heritage place it at the heart of Nigeria’s blue economy ambitions.”
He added that the programme supports President Bola Tinubu’s agenda on food security, youth empowerment, economic diversification and sustainable use of marine resources, joking that Cross River State “should be regarded as the fish basket of the nation” due to its fisheries output.
World Bank Team Lead, Morales Yolanda, said the institution sees the blue economy as a major driver of inclusive growth in coastal regions.
“The World Bank stands ready to collaborate closely with federal and state governments,” she said. “We will mobilise funding, technical expertise and strategic partnerships to ensure the success of this programme.”
A technical presentation by the Dean of the Faculty of Oceanography, University of Calabar, Prof. Francis Nwosu, further outlined Cross River’s comparative advantages in shipping, fisheries, coastal tourism and marine research.
On the sidelines of the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, Miss Melodie Lebo, said the programme will deliver internationally benchmarked training across multiple maritime disciplines.
“This is about equipping participants with 21st-century skills aligned with global standards,” Lebo said. “The archaic way of doing things is gone. After this training, participants will be fully equipped with modern competencies.”
She added that beneficiaries will access job opportunities, internships and collaborations linked to the World Bank, noting that certificates issued at the end of the programme will be internationally recognised.
“This is only the first phase,” Lebo said. “It signals the beginning of a coordinated and transformative pathway for marine and blue economy development in Cross River State.”
