The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has described the promotion of maritime art among children and youths in coastal communities as a gateway to unlocking opportunities within the country’s maritime industry.

The Lekki Port Manager of the NPA, Anda Emmanuel, stated this while flagging off the maiden edition of the “Paint Your Coast” initiative at Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

The programme, organised by the African Maritime Art Exhibition (AMAE) in collaboration with the National Gallery of Art (NGA), aims to promote ocean literacy, environmental stewardship and blue economy awareness among children and youths in coastal communities.

Anda noted that coastal communities possess enormous untapped opportunities, urging children and young people to embrace creativity as a pathway to participating in the blue economy and improving their livelihoods.

He stressed that art should be viewed as a platform for economic empowerment rather than merely a recreational activity.

“Our coastal communities provide immense support to the Blue Economy. Through marine art, you will become more aware of the maritime sector, discover its vast opportunities and learn how to explore them to improve your livelihood,” he stated.

Convener of AMAE, Ezinne Azunna, said the initiative was designed to help children and young people living along Nigeria’s coastline recognise opportunities within the maritime sector beyond their traditional occupations.

“Following the initial training sessions, participants are provided with materials to create artworks over a one-month period. Schools will then submit entries for independent jury evaluation, with the top 10 works set to be showcased at the AMAE 2026 exhibition later this year,” she said.

Azunna encouraged participants to embrace drawing, painting and other forms of artistic expression as valuable creative skills capable of opening doors to education, employment and entrepreneurship within the blue economy.

Representing the Director General of the National Gallery of Art, Ahmed Sodangi, the Zonal Coordinator (West), Oladipo Babalola, expressed confidence that the initiative would have a lasting impact on coastal communities through creative education.

He noted that children living along the coastline possess unique advantages and should maximise the opportunities available to them through programmes such as Paint Your Coast.

The Director of the International Ocean Institute (IOI)-Nigeria, Dr. Akanbi Williams, commended the initiative for using creativity as a tool to deepen environmental awareness among children in coastal communities.

He said the programme provides students with opportunities to explore their maritime heritage, environmental responsibility and community identity through artistic expression.

According to him, art remains one of the most effective ways of telling the stories of the sea, highlighting the livelihoods of coastal communities and inspiring future generations to protect fragile marine ecosystems.