Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Tuesday took Nigeria’s maritime investment campaign to the high-profile Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where he canvassed stronger African partnerships on maritime sovereignty and sustainable development.

Oyetola spoke during a high-level panel session titled “Blue Economy , Maritime Sovereignty and  Sustainable Valorization,” alongside France’s Minister of the Sea and Fisheries, Catherine Chabaud, and other leading maritime stakeholders across Africa.

The summit, jointly hosted by William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron, drew African leaders, policymakers, investors and development partners to deliberate on innovation, economic growth and strategic continental partnerships.

Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also participated in the gathering, which observers described as a major diplomatic and economic engagement aimed at deepening Africa-France cooperation.

The event, held under the theme “Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth,” is regarded as historic, being the first Africa-France summit hosted in an English-speaking, non-Francophone African country.

At the summit, Oyetola showcased ongoing reforms and investments by the Federal Government targeted at unlocking the enormous potential of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy sector.

The statement signed by Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Special Adviser to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy said Central to the reform efforts is the creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in August 2023, a move the government said has accelerated policy direction and institutional coordination in the sector.

According to the Ministry, one of the major milestones recorded since its establishment is the development of Nigeria’s first National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, expected to provide a strategic framework for sustainable growth and investment expansion.

The Ministry also disclosed that agencies under its supervision generated a record N1.83 trillion revenue in the 2025 fiscal year, reflecting growing economic activity within the maritime sector.

It further noted that the Federal Government has approved a comprehensive port modernization and upgrade programme aimed at attracting larger vessels, creating jobs and strengthening Nigeria’s position as the leading maritime hub in West and Central Africa.