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From the fish on Nigerian tables to the livelihoods of coastal communities and the growing economic opportunities hidden beneath the country’s waters, Nigeria’s future prosperity may depend heavily on how well it manages its oceans and other water resources.
This was the strong message from Malta as the International Ocean Institute (IOI) called on Nigeria to move beyond exploiting its marine resources and embrace a more responsible and sustainable approach to ocean management.
Antonella Vassallo, Managing Director, International Ocean Institute Headquarters, Malta, said Nigeria had enormous opportunities to benefit from the Blue Economy, but warned that such benefits could only be sustained if the country protects the marine environment while developing its economic potential.
Vassallo spoke in a message delivered by Akanbi Williams, Director of the IOI-Nigeria Centre, during the commemoration of the 2026 World Ocean Day in Lagos.
The event, held at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), was organised by the IOI-Nigeria Centre in collaboration with NIOMR and other partners.
The 2026 celebration was themed: “Reimagine: Beyond the World We Know, A New Relationship with Our Ocean.”
Vassallo said the theme should force a rethink of the relationship between Nigerians and the ocean, particularly at a time when marine ecosystems are under growing pressure from pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and unsustainable exploitation.
She noted that the ocean covers more than 70 per cent of the planet and provides food, jobs, transportation, energy, climate regulation, recreation and other benefits essential to human survival.
But she warned that continuing to take from the ocean without adequately protecting it could undermine the very economic opportunities that Nigeria hopes to gain from its marine resources.
“The future health of the Ocean, and indeed our own future prosperity, depends on the choices we make today,” Vassallo said.
Nigeria’s Blue Economy: Opportunity Beyond Oil
Vassallo said the Blue Economy represents a major opportunity for economic growth, employment, innovation, food security and sustainable development.
For Nigeria, she said, the challenge was not simply to increase the use of ocean resources but to ensure that such exploitation is responsible, equitable and environmentally sustainable.
“A truly sustainable Blue Economy is one that balances economic opportunity with environmental stewardship. It is one that protects marine biodiversity while supporting livelihoods,” she said.
She added that Nigeria must prioritise long-term sustainability over short-term economic gains while ensuring that future generations inherit an ocean capable of continuing to support their livelihoods.
Her message comes at a time when issues such as marine pollution, plastic waste, overfishing, coastal degradation and the impact of climate change continue to threaten Nigeria’s coastal and aquatic environments.
Why Ocean Governance Matters
The IOI chief identified ocean governance, ocean science, ocean literacy and capacity development as critical to achieving sustainable prosperity from Nigeria’s marine resources.
According to her, proper ocean governance would help countries strike a balance between economic development and environmental protection.
She recalled that the International Ocean Institute, founded more than five decades ago by Elisabeth Mann Borgese, had consistently promoted integrated ocean governance and the responsible, peaceful and sustainable use of ocean resources.
“At the International Ocean Institute, founded by Elisabeth Mann Borgese over fifty years ago, we have long promoted integrated Ocean governance and the responsible, peaceful, and sustainable use of Ocean resources,” she said.
Vassallo stressed that knowledge, cooperation and informed decision-making were indispensable to securing the future of the world’s oceans.
IOI-Nigeria Pushes Ocean Literacy
She commended the IOI-Nigeria Centre for its contribution to ocean education, training, research, public engagement and advocacy.
According to her, building an ocean-literate Nigerian population would help citizens understand both the economic opportunities associated with the Blue Economy and the consequences of damaging marine ecosystems.
“An ocean-literate society is better equipped to make informed decisions about the future of the Ocean,” she said.
She encouraged the Nigerian centre to continue bringing together policymakers, scientists, industry players, educators, civil society organisations and local communities to find practical solutions to the challenges facing the ocean.
From Talk to Action
Vassallo urged stakeholders to transform the ideas generated during World Ocean Day into concrete action.
“Let us imagine new ways of governing Ocean resources. Let us imagine innovative solutions to Ocean challenges. Let us imagine a Blue Economy that works for both people and nature,” she said.
“But most importantly, let us move from imagination to action.”
She said every stakeholder had a role to play in protecting the ocean and ensuring that its resources continued to support humanity for generations.
Quoting the founder of the International Ocean Institute, Elisabeth Mann Borgese, Vassallo said:
“We must save our oceans if we are to save ourselves.”
For Nigeria, the message is particularly significant: the ocean is not merely a vast body of water bordering the country. It is a source of food, jobs, livelihoods, environmental protection and economic opportunity — and how Nigeria manages it today could determine how much of that wealth remains available tomorrow.
By Innocent Onoh
