The Maritime Correspondents' Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) is set to hold a conference on Wednesday, September 30, at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos, to examine pathways to sustainable growth in Nigeria's fishing industry. The conference, themed "Sustainable Fishing in Nigeria: Pathways to Growth, Food Security and Coastal Livelihoods," will bring together stakeholders from the fisheries and maritime sectors. They will discuss challenges facing the industry and explore measures to strengthen food production, employment, and economic growth.
The conference will feature various presentations from industry experts and stakeholders. Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), will speak on "The Role of Port Infrastructure and Maritime Logistics in Advancing Sustainable Fishing in Nigeria." His presentation will focus on the importance of efficient port infrastructure and maritime logistics for developing the fishing industry. Other speakers include the President of the Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association and the Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Ruth Abisola Olusanya.
The conference will cover a range of topics, including port infrastructure and logistics, industrial fishing, fisheries value chains, maritime regulation, port economic regulation, marine science, skills development, and human capital. Dr. Dayo Mobereola, Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), will address "Protecting Nigeria's Marine Resources: The Role of Maritime Regulation in Sustainable Fisheries Development." Dr. Pius Akutah, Director-General of the Nigerian Ports Economic Regulatory Agency (NPERA), will present a paper on "Port Economic Regulation as a Catalyst for Sustainable Fishing and Blue-Economy Development in Nigeria."
Other speakers at the conference include Mr. Akanbi Bamikole Williams, Director of the International Ocean Institute-Nigeria Centre, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, and Dr. Paul Chukwudi Onuoha, Provost of the Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology. They will discuss "Marine Science and Sustainable Fisheries Development in Nigeria: Bridging Research, Policy and Practice" and "Strategies for Building Capacity for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture in Nigeria," respectively.
The President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade Francis Bunu Abi, will address the sector's human capital needs in a presentation titled "Human Capital: Strengthening the Workforce for Sustainable Fishing in Nigeria." The conference will be chaired by MARCON patron and President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), High Chief Tochukwu Ezisi.
According to MARCON, the conference is part of its efforts to promote informed public discourse on issues affecting the maritime industry and to encourage stakeholder engagement towards the sustainable development of Nigeria's fisheries sector. The event is designed to bring the various components of the fisheries and maritime sectors into a common discussion.
Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Paul Ogbuokiri, said that the participation of regulators, industry operators, researchers, training institutions, and labour representatives would enable stakeholders to examine the fishing industry across production and logistics, regulation, human capital, and market development. He said MARCON expected the discussions to yield practical ideas and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders in addressing the challenges facing Nigeria's fishing industry.
Key points
- The conference aims to promote sustainable growth in Nigeria's fishing industry.
- The event will bring together stakeholders from the fisheries and maritime sectors to discuss challenges and explore solutions.
- The conference will cover topics such as port infrastructure, industrial fishing, and human capital development.
