The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, on Monday, April 8, 2024, in Abuja canvassed for continuous investment in research, innovation and technology to tackle climate change in the country.
Oyetola, represented by his Permanent Secretary, Mr Olufemi Oloruntola, made the call in his opening address at a “Stakeholders Consultative Workshop on National Blue Economy Strategy.”
The workshop was organised by the African Union for Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), with funding from the Kingdom of Norway.
According to Oyetola, investments in research, innovation, and technology can unlock new solutions for ocean conservation, resource efficiency, and climate resilience, paving way for a more prosperous and sustainable future.
The minister said over-exploitation of marine resources, habitat destruction, pollution, and climate change threaten the health and resilience of ocean ecosystems.
“To address the challenges requires concerted efforts to promote responsible resource management, mitigate environmental impacts, and build resilience to climate change.
“This will help to build the potential to drive inclusive growth, create employment opportunities, and alleviate poverty, particularly in coastal and island communities.
“When we choose to harness the vast potential of our oceans sustainably, we can unlock new sources of economic value, such as fisheries, aquaculture, marine tourism, renewable energy, and biotechnology,” Oyetola said.
Speaking, Mr Babatunde Sule, the Director of Maritime Services Department of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, said that climate change ought to be tackled collectively.
Sule said that priority ought to be placed on preventing calamities and disasters to reduce loss of lives on the marine environments.
By Gabriel Agbeja
