Art has been identified as a tool to promoting the Marine and Blue Economy sector in Nigeria.

Its uniqueness as a prominent tool to selling the sector to Nigerians and others was echoed at the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research, Victoria Island Lagos during the African Maritime Art Exhibition (AMAE).

AMAE is an initiative of Hazi’s -a platform, gallery and promoter of art from Africa. The first edition of AMAE in 2022 and has continued to promote art and exchange on the multibillion-dollar Blue Economy in Africa and the World.

AMAE uses photography, textile art, paint, sculpture and other motifs/ subjects to tell stories and support causes around the Blue Economy. It is a meeting point for the town and gown.
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This year show themed “The Convergence: Maritime Meets ICT’, underscores the invaluable need for up-to-date technologies across the value chain.

AMAE remains the singular exhibition in Africa built around the portraiture of the Blue Economy and its causes, using aesthetic and semiotic element.

This year, the exhibition showcased 21 major artworks around the blue economy and took art enthusiasts to the heart of Marine and blue Economy through art.
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The collection of art artworks mirrors the marine and maritime industry in Nigeria now known as the Blue Economy. It shows water transportation, cityscapes and natural endowments.

It is interesting to see how Apapa, Metropolitan Lagos and Colours of Lagos all reflects the same city from various perspectives yet representing the commerce the city of Lagos is known for.

In a similar manner, the works titled People and Blue Cluster emphasize the intense work and complexities associated with the dominant business of importation and exportation in Nigeria.

Speaking on the exhibition, Professor Fakinlede who represented the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said: “The Marine and Blue economy is new to Nigeria so, what we are doing is taking it out of the wardrobe for everybody to see and art is one of the ways to consciously reach out.

“This is significant as the Minister is looking for ways to let Nigerians know about the Marine and Blue Economy so that it gets to the subconsciousness of our people and from there, we can come together as a nation and look for solutions to our problems and see how we can use any information from the exhibition to project our maritime resources in Nigeria and in west Africa.

On the attractions and attention the exhibition will bring to the sector, he said: “If you go to anywhere and ask, people will gasp about Marine and Blue Economy so, an event like this is a good way to project the Marine and Blue Economy to the rest of Nigeria. I appreciate the organisers of this exhibition because it’s a way to project the Marine and Blue Economy to people that are not aware of it. Art is one of the ways of letting people know and I hope this exhibition continues and grow, maybe we can move it to Port Harcourt and other parts of the country to engage people. As the Marine and Blue Economy grow, we also have to improve our information so that people know about it.
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When asked about the commitment of the minister to the show, he said: “The honorable minister wants to be here but he was unable and decided to send me so, that’s a commitment. We have been working with stakeholders, engaging people both in public and private and we are here for this exhibition to show that Marine and Blue Economy has come to stay. We are fully committed to getting our information regarding the Marine and Blue Economy out and this exhibition is key to getting the subconsciousness of the people. We have seen a lot of artworks that showcase the maritime resources we have so, we are fully in support of that.

Speaking on the show, Programme Director, African Maritime Art Exhibition, Ezinne Azunna, said: “We have seen the disconnect between the industry and people outside so, in order to bridge it and to let people understand the importance of the industry, we had to begin various kinds of innovation and one of them is the exhibition.

“A lot of people relate with art, things they see and that a lone can begin a conversation around marine life like the sea turtle and the need to save them.

On the choice of art to draw attention to Blue economy, she said: “There is music, tourism and every parts of our economy in the blue economy so, we are growing and continue to do this. We have improved as organisers and we will improve next year. The dream is not only to be in Nigeria and that is why it’s called African Maritime Art Exhibition so, we want to go round the maritime nation and also want to take the African art to the foreign world and showcase it so, we will continue to push.
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