…Applications open October 5 for National Innovation Hackathon, 12-week accelerator programme
For young Nigerians looking for opportunities beyond the traditional job market, the maritime sector may soon offer a new pathway into innovation, entrepreneurship and investment, as the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has unveiled a new programme designed to bring young innovators into the country’s blue economy.
NIMASA unveiled the NIMASA Blue Economy Accelerator Programme (NIMASA-BEAP) and the National Innovation Hackathon as strategic initiatives aimed at helping young Nigerians develop solutions to challenges across the maritime and blue economy value chain, while creating opportunities for private-sector investment and business growth.
The programmes are expected to provide a structured platform for young innovators and emerging enterprises to turn ideas into practical solutions in areas connected with Nigeria’s vast maritime resources.
Speaking at the unveiling, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, described the initiative as a national development imperative, stressing that Nigeria must begin to derive greater economic value from its maritime resources.
He noted that the scale of the maritime economy offers significant opportunities for economic diversification, job creation, innovation and greater participation of Nigerians in the maritime value chain.
“Nigeria’s maritime economy is a multi-billion naira frontier we have left largely untapped. We capture less than three percent of the value moving through our own waters. NIMASA-BEAP exists to correct that historic imbalance,” Dr. Mobereola stated.
The NIMASA Director-General challenged young innovators and entrepreneurs to take ownership of the emerging opportunities in the sector, urging them to “Lead this frontier. Do not follow it” and to view the maritime industry not merely as a conventional sector, but as a frontier for innovation, investment and national economic transformation.
Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, commended NIMASA for what he described as a bold initiative, saying it represents a shift from the agency’s traditional regulatory role towards actively stimulating the development of Nigeria’s blue economy.
According to the Minister, “I want to commend, the Director-General and CEO of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, and NIMASA’s Executive Management Team, for the vision and institutional boldness this programme represents. This is not a routine government initiative. This is a paradigm shift — from NIMASA as a regulator, to NIMASA as a catalyst. The NIMASA Blue Economy Accelerator sets a standard that I am proud, as Minister, to champion before this audience”.
Represented by the Director, Marine Conservation and Innovation, Mr. Shettima Hussein Shehu, the Minister urged commercial banks, development finance institutions and other maritime stakeholders to support the programme through investment, mentorship and strategic partnerships.
The call attracted commitments from representatives of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping, First Bank, Zenith Bank, Fidelity Bank, Wema Bank, Shipowners Association of Nigeria (SOAN), Tamrose Limited, Petromarine Limited and Starzs Investment Limited, who expressed willingness to partner with NIMASA in driving the accelerator programme.
For prospective applicants, the programme comes with a clearly defined timeline. The NIMASA-BEAP application portal will open on October 5, 2026, to young innovators aged between 18 and 28 years, giving them an opportunity to submit ideas and solutions capable of addressing challenges within Nigeria’s maritime and blue economy ecosystem.
Applications will close on November 13, 2026, followed by independent evaluation and due diligence from November 16 to December 2, 2026.
The National Innovation Hackathon is scheduled for December 8–10, 2026, where selected innovators will have the opportunity to develop and test their ideas in a competitive innovation environment.
Successful participants will thereafter proceed into a 12-week Accelerator Programme in the first quarter of 2027, designed to further develop their ventures and prepare them for the next stage of growth.
The programme will culminate in a National Demo Day in the second quarter of 2027, where participating ventures will showcase their solutions and businesses to investors, maritime industry stakeholders and potential partners.
With the initiative, NIMASA is seeking to connect Nigeria’s young creative and entrepreneurial population with an industry that remains central to international trade, transportation and the country’s wider economic development, while creating a pipeline of home-grown innovations for the blue economy.
