By Adedapo Adesanya
The Sustainable Nigerian Blue Economy – Ecosystem Conference will now be held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State after stakeholders kicked against Lagos as the host.
The event was initially scheduled for Lagos from November 5 to 7 but will now take place from November 26 to 28, 2024, at the Presidential Hotel, Aba Road, Port Harcourt.
According to a statement by Alfe City Institution, signed by Mr Soji Adeleye, the Chief Executive Officer, the change was necessary to ensure full participation of the House of Representatives Committees relevant to the Nigerian Blue Economy.
The Ecosystem Conference is a three-day event that brings all the stakeholders, including the legislative and executive arms of the government, the Littoral states and others to help in the urgent comprehensive legislative requirements and policy formulation exercise necessary for a sustainable Nigerian Blue Economy.
“This Conference aspires to bring into focus how a robust maximalist implementation of a sustainable Nigerian Blue Economy would tackle the most critical challenges facing the country today – low productivity, unemployment, transportation infrastructural deficit and economic stagnation,” he said.
Some of the confirmed participants in the conference include the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), and the Delta State Government.
The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) will also be contributing to the important issue of financing solutions for the infrastructural development projects required for building a sustainable Nigerian Blue Economy at the conference.
Modupe Gbadeyanka