Ocean Wide Tourism Initiative (OWTI) has planned to pioneer a groundbreaking approach to harnessing Nigeria’s vast coastal resources, promoting sustainable economic growth and youth employment. 
 
Convener of the Initiative, Dr Chizoba Anyika, who spoke during the quarterly sensitisation and enlightenment outreach in Lagos State, said that OWTI is working to unlock the potential of Nigeria’s 850 kilometres coastline, rich in natural resources, tourism potential, and trade routes.

The initiative, according to her, aims to create a hub of sustainable growth, driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation in Nigeria’s littoral states that include Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, and Rivers, which border the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Guinea.

According to her, the Ocean Wide Tourism Initiative is also seeking to bridge the gap between potential and practice by attracting private investment, promoting coastal tourism, and creating pathways for youth entrepreneurship.
 
According to Anyika, the OWTI mission goes beyond job creation, but also serves as a blueprint for sustainable development, balancing economic expansion with environmental stewardship, adding that the initiative aligns with the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focusing on decent work, economic growth, and life below water. 

It also mirrors global trends where coastal regions are becoming new engines of national economies, driving innovation and tourism.

Participants say that under Dr. Anyika’s leadership, the Ocean Wide Tourism Initiative is positioning Nigeria to harness its blue economy much like oil was once harnessed — but with sustainability at its core. “Our youth are our greatest assets,” she notes, “and the ocean is their next frontier.”

By spotlighting investment opportunities and advocating collaboration among stakeholders, Dr. Mrs. Chizoba Anyika is setting sail on a journey that could redefine employment and enterprise in Nigeria’s littoral regions. If her vision gains the momentum it deserves, the tides could indeed be turning — carrying thousands of young Nigerians toward a brighter, more sustainable shore.