Get Guardian on GoogleA Nigerian maritime and coastal tourism expert, Dr. Chizoba Christiana Anyika, has called on African governments, development institutions and private-sector stakeholders to prioritise water security, safe sanitation and sustainable tourism development as strategic instruments for achieving the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Dr. Anyika made the call while participating as a guest speaker at the African Tourism Dialogue, at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where she presented a paper titled “Unlocking Africa’s Tourism Potential Through Water Security and Safe Sanitation.”
Her presentation was aligned with the African Union’s 2026 Theme of the Year, “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” which underscores the importance of sustainable water management, improved sanitation and resilient infrastructure in advancing Africa’s socioeconomic transformation.
Speaking on the relationship between water sustainability and tourism competitiveness, Anyika emphasised that Africa’s ambition to become a leading global tourism destination must be supported by adequate water infrastructure, environmental protection and effective governance.
According to her, water security should no longer be viewed exclusively as an environmental or public health concern but as a critical economic development priority capable of influencing tourism investment, destination competitiveness and community prosperity.
“Africa cannot build globally competitive tourism destinations while host communities struggle with inadequate access to clean water, poor sanitation and environmental degradation.
Sustainable tourism must create value for both visitors and the communities that sustain these destinations,” she stated in her presentation.
Connecting Tourism Development to Agenda 2063
Drawing attention to the African Union’s long-term development blueprint, Anyika explained that tourism could contribute significantly to Agenda 2063’s Aspiration 1, which envisions a prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development.
She noted that the development of sustainable tourism destinations could strengthen several interconnected sectors, including transportation, hospitality, agriculture, fisheries, renewable energy, cultural industries and digital services.
The maritime expert stressed that Africa must move beyond promoting its natural attractions towards building competitive, environmentally responsible and investment-ready tourism destinations.
She advocated stronger collaboration among ministries and institutions responsible for tourism, water resources, transportation, environment, maritime affairs and investment promotion.
According to her, such coordination would help translate continental development commitments into practical infrastructure projects, employment opportunities and measurable economic outcomes.
Blue Economy and Coastal Tourism as Drivers of Inclusive Growth
Highlighting the enormous potential of Africa’s blue economy, Anyika identified marine and coastal tourism as important opportunities for economic diversification, particularly in countries endowed with extensive coastlines, rivers, lakes and wetlands.
She observed that Nigeria’s coastal states, including Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, possess significant opportunities for sustainable waterfront development, marine recreation, ecotourism and community-based tourism enterprises.
However, she cautioned that the economic potential of these destinations could only be realised through deliberate investments in water infrastructure, sanitation, visitor safety, environmental conservation and responsible destination management.
Anyika further stressed that the benefits of tourism development must extend to local communities, particularly women, young people, small businesses and indigenous entrepreneurs.
She advocated inclusive tourism policies that promote skills development, access to financing, local enterprise participation and sustainable employment.
Water Sustainability as a Foundation for Tourism Competitiveness
Addressing the broader implications of the AU’s 2026 theme, Anyika maintained that water availability and sanitation infrastructure are essential foundations for the development of resilient tourism economies.
She noted that polluted beaches, inadequate waste management, unsafe water supplies and deteriorating aquatic ecosystems could undermine destination attractiveness, discourage investment and threaten public health.
She therefore urged African countries to integrate sustainable water management, climate resilience and environmental safeguards into national tourism development strategies.
The expert also called for increased public-private partnerships to support water-efficient hospitality infrastructure, sustainable coastal development, improved sanitation systems and responsible resource management.
From Continental Aspirations to Measurable Outcomes
Anyika emphasised that the success of Agenda 2063 should ultimately be reflected in tangible improvements in infrastructure, economic opportunities, environmental sustainability and the wellbeing of African communities.
She recommended that tourism development performance should be evaluated not only through visitor arrivals and tourism receipts but also through employment creation, local economic participation, environmental protection and community benefits.
She further encouraged African policymakers to develop investment frameworks capable of attracting responsible private capital into sustainable tourism infrastructure and blue economy enterprises.
“Africa must move from tourism potential to tourism productivity, from policy declarations to practical implementation, and from resource abundance to shared prosperity,” she emphasised.
Strengthening Africa’s Continental Tourism Agenda
The African Tourism Dialogue provided a platform for discussions on Africa’s tourism development priorities, sustainable infrastructure, regional connectivity and opportunities for strengthening the continent’s global competitiveness.
Anyika’s contribution reinforced the need to position tourism within broader continental development frameworks, particularly the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and its aspirations for inclusive economic growth, environmental sustainability and regional integration.
Her presentation also highlighted the importance of aligning tourism investments with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation, SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth, SDG 11 on sustainable cities and communities, and SDG 14 on life below water.
She concluded by urging African leaders to embrace an integrated development approach in which water security, sustainable tourism and the blue economy serve as mutually reinforcing drivers of economic transformation.
About Dr. Chizoba Anyika
Dr. Chizoba Christiana Anyika is a Deputy Director at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), with extensive professional experience in maritime administration, transport logistics and industry development.
She holds a PhD in Transport Logistics, specialising in Marine Tourism, and a Master of Science degree in Marine Policy from Cardiff University, United Kingdom.
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the Chartered Institute of Transport Administration of Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute of Shipping, she is actively involved in professional leadership, capacity development and advocacy for women’s participation in the maritime, energy and transport sectors.
She is also the Convener and Presenter of Blue Horizon, a platform dedicated to advancing economic diversification through strategic marine, coastal and sustainable tourism development across Africa.
Her participation at the African Tourism Dialogue reflects her continuing commitment to promoting policy-driven, inclusive and sustainable development of Africa’s tourism and blue economy sectors.
