A foremost blue economy advisory firm, Gadfly Consulting Limited, is advocating the use of seaport development to drive job creation across the country.
In a statement made available to journalists yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the firm commended the Federal Government for approving the establishment of five additional deep seaports.
According to the firm’s Senior Consultant, Philemon Adjekuko, the development is long overdue.
“The continued congestion of ports in Lagos, while other port facilities, particularly in the Niger Delta, remain abandoned, is both inexplicable and embarrassing. We are pleased that with these approvals, the logistics nightmare and avoidable delays may soon become a thing of the past. However, we must ensure that we pursue economically viable ports so they can remain sustainable,” he said.
Also speaking, Uche Igwe, Lead Consultant at Gadfly Consulting Limited, said there are at least 500,000 direct and indirect jobs that can be created within ocean-centric sectors.
“However, we must be careful and deliberate in preparing our young people for the opportunities ahead. This is the time to anticipate the skills and competencies required and begin aligning accordingly. Momentum is building, and pathways are becoming clearer.
“Our firm is committed to developing comprehensive blue skills strategies that can expand workforce capacity to meet inevitable future demands. We will partner with government, industry players, and educational institutions with a view to aligning education systems with blue economy opportunities,” he added.
In a related development, Gadfly Consulting Limited is working with partners to co-convene a meeting on mobilizing capital for investment in Africa’s blue economy.
The session is scheduled to hold on June 17 in Mombasa, on the sidelines of the annual Our Ocean Conference.
The meeting seeks to consider bankable projects, including deep seaport development plans, and match them with appropriate financing options.
Representatives of top government agencies in Nigeria’s blue economy sector, as well as the Commonwealth Secretariat, Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA), FSD Africa, Blue Bond Accelerator, and the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, among others, have confirmed their attendance.