By Sandra Chukwunyere
Rear Admiral Thaddeus Christopher Udofia, Director General of the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION), emphasized that unlocking the blue economy’s potential requires cooperation, coordination, and collaboration among stakeholders.
He stated this during a two-day executive course on “Maritime Security and Global Trade” in Lagos, which aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills needed to function as leaders in the maritime industry.
The course covered key areas such as:
– *Maritime Security*: introduction, threats, impact on global logistics, frameworks, and regulations
– *Ocean Economy*: basics for a thriving ocean economy, powered by innovation, technology, and responsible stewardship
– *Security Technologies and Strategies*: exploring solutions to ensure maritime security
Rear Admiral Udofia highlighted the importance of collective commitment to tackling hard issues, citing President John F. Kennedy’s quote, “We choose to go to the moon this decade and do the other things not because they are easy but because they are hard.” He emphasized that achieving a sustainable blue economy demands:
– *Inter-agency collaboration*
– *Coordination*
– *Cooperation*
The IMION Director General also commended President Bola Tinubu’s vision for the blue economy, noting the establishment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under his administration. The executive course brought together participants from various organizations, including the Nigerian Navy, Customs Service, and Nigerian Institute of Management Technology, to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and development of actionable solutions for a thriving blue economy.
