Nsukka, Nigeria – The Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, has said that a blue economy is crucial to the economic prosperity of Nigeria in the face of population growth.
Ogalla disclosed this in Nsukka on Thursday while delivering the 2024 Distinguished Annual Public Lecture of the Faculty of the Social Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), titled, “Safeguarding Nigeria Blue Economy Potentials: The Role of the Nigeria Navy.”
He described blue economy as the sustainable utilisation of marine resources, warning that Nigeria must harness potentials that abound in blue economy to achieve economic prosperity.
“The blue economy is crucial to the economic prosperity of Nigeria, particularly as our population grows and global supply chain becomes increasingly integrated, this growth also brings a multidimensional increase in maritime crimes.
“The Nigeria Navy has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring a secure environment, necessary to safeguard the nation’s blue economy potentials.
“The success of these efforts will require increased support and collaborations from all stakeholders,” he said.
Speaking further, Ogalla noted that despite the immense potential of the blue economy, the maritime domain faces various threats to global economic stability.
“The maritime domain remains vulnerable to various threats that pose significant risk to global economic stability.
“Maritime crime encompass a wide range of illicit activities prohibited under both international and national laws, thereby increasing shipping cost, disrupting trade, and contributes to economic instability and financial uncertainty,” he said.
He commended the faculty for finding him worthy to deliver the faculty’s 2024 distinguished annual public lecture and promised continuous partnership with the university.
In a remark, Prof Aloysius Okolie, the Vice-chancellor of Enugu State University of Science Technology, who chaired the occasion, commended Ogalla for accepting to be the guest lecturer of 2024 Faculty of Social Science.
Okolie attributed the present high rate of kidnapping, arms banditry, terrorism, among others, as a result of the breakdown on social contracts and moral values.
“One of the reasons of the present insecurity in the country is because some of those involved are not engaged in useful ventures as a result of breakdown of social contracts.
He commended the Faculty of Social Science for the choice of Ogalla as the guest lecturer and described the topic of the lecture as apt, especially now that the county needed more avenues for revenue generations.
Also speaking, Prof Polycarp Chigbu, the Acting Vice-chancellor of the UNN said the presence of Ogala is testament of his commitment in fostering dialogue, intellectual exchange and strategic engagement on matters that are pivotal to the growth and development of the nation.
Chigbu said UNN admires the remarkable transformations that Chief of Naval Staff had spearheaded since his appointment by President Bola Tinubu.
Chigbu applauded the Dean Faculty of Social Science, Prof Chidi Nzeadibe for attracting the naval Chief to be the guest lecturer of the faculty’s 2024 public lecture.
The VC solicited supports from the Navy that could enhance infrastructures and development of facilities in the university.
Earlier, Prof. Chidi Nzeadibe, Dean, faculty of social science of the university, expressed appreciation to the guest lecturer who in spite of his tight schedules came physically to deliver the public lecture.
“The faculty will forever remain grateful to you for this honour you have shown us, we will not take the honour for granted,” he said.
“My appreciation also goes to staff and students of the faculty as well as the university community in general who contributed in one way or the other to make this year’s public lecture a huge success,” Nzeadibe said.
