Nigeria launches Africa’s first Blue Economy TV to drive growth and innovation in maritime sector
By Uzor Odigbo
Blue Economy TV (BETV), a dedicated channel focused on advancing Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy sectors, was officially launched in Lagos on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Billed as the first of its kind in Africa, the channel emphasizes marine resources, policy discussions, shipping, coastal tourism, and other sustainable ocean-based industries.
The event, held in Lagos, attracted key stakeholders from the maritime sector, government officials, and industry experts. It was conceived by the Blue Economy Academy.
Speaking at the launch, Emmanuel Oluwadamilola, General Manager of the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Blue Economy, underscored the strategic importance of the state’s maritime assets.
“With over 180 kilometres of coastline and more than 140 kilometres of inland waterways traversing our communities, Lagos has a maritime corridor that handles over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s international trade,” he said. “Yet, for years, we have only just begun to awaken to the true value of our waters and maritime space. Today marks a significant shift.”
Oluwadamilola described the unveiling of BETV as a key step toward reshaping public perception of the maritime sector and unlocking opportunities in the blue economy. He said the platform would spotlight critical areas such as fisheries, aquaculture, water transportation, tourism, sports, and marine services, while advancing discussions on environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
“The launch of Blue Economy TV is not just the unveiling of a platform, but the awakening of a consciousness—a realisation that our waters are not barriers, but bridges; not limits, but lifelines; not just scenery, but strategy,” he said. “Within these waters lie jobs for our youth, food security, mobility solutions, investment opportunities, and pathways to environmental sustainability.”
Earlier, Ubong Essien, CSP, founder of the Blue Economy Academy, explained that BETV was driven by the need to deepen awareness and unlock Nigeria’s vast marine potential through media and knowledge dissemination.
He noted that the Academy, now approaching its second year, aims to highlight the untapped prosperity Nigeria can derive from its waters.
“We have the Blue Economy Academy, an institution designed with the mission to see a Nigeria that prospers by water,” Essien said. “That is our mission. That is what drives us. We can’t have so much prosperity from Badagry to Bakassi and not make the most of it.”
Essien distinguished the blue economy from the traditional maritime sector, calling it an ecosystem encompassing multiple industries and opportunities.
“The maritime industry is essentially a sector. The blue economy is an ecosystem,” he said. “It is now time to explore all of the other elements that make up that ecosystem.”
He outlined the Academy’s framework of ten “inclusion buckets,” covering areas such as commerce, governance, climate, energy, and finance. He added that Lagos, as Nigeria’s financial hub, is well positioned to become a centre for “blue capital.”
Essien said BETV would extend the Academy’s vision by using media to drive engagement, policy conversations, and national reorientation.
“Everything we will be doing is through a blue prism, until Nigerians realise that we are a blue nation,” he said. “Our national colour may be green, but it is blue that keeps green alive.”
He noted that the channel would feature programmes such as Blue Morning Nigeria and Watchers of the Seas, alongside dedicated news content, all aimed at shaping discourse and influencing policy.
Essien also emphasised the strategic role of coastal and water-linked states in advancing the sector, urging stronger collaboration to overcome “sea blindness” at all levels of society.
“For the blue economy to succeed, the littoral states must take the lead, and the blue corridor states must also see the value,” he said. “In the end, what we are trying to do is eliminate sea blindness—at the top and at the bottom.”
Attendees praised the initiative as a timely platform to promote awareness, attract investment, and foster sustainable development of Nigeria’s marine and coastal resources.
Blue Economy TV is expected to serve as a dedicated channel for storytelling, education, and stakeholder engagement in the blue economy.
