NIWA boss worried over poor ocean literacy knowledge

Segun Oladipupo |

The Lagos Area Manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Engineer Lara Braimah has expressed worries over poor knowledge of ocean literacy in Nigeria.

Brahman said this as chairperson, at educators and maritime stakeholders round table and award held in Lagos earlier in the week.

Quoting Worldwide Fund for Nature, she stated that ocean resources generated about 24 trillion dollars annually.

She said, “Indeed, poor knowledge of ocean literacy in Nigeria calls for concern, particularly among the citizens who from all intents and purposes must be brought into the pictures of the entire blue economy architecture and made to be its poster face.

“According to worldwide fund for nature, ocean resources generate about 24 trillion dollars annually.

“As a niche sector, it is imperative that Nigerians understand that blue economy provide food, jobs, water and other natural assets needed for national development.

“My expectation is to make remarks and not present a paper,suffice it to say that our distinguish speaker today will help us unearth more on this all important topic, particularly on how to make “blue career” attractive to our students at various Universities and those aspiring to further academic studies”

The NIWA Area Manager added that Nigeria’s search for home grown solutions to its socio-economic future cannot be strong if the country fails to encourage serious academic pursuit, particularly in research, development and innovation to reposition our ocean economy and its value chain.

She said the world out there today in the global maritime economy is for peoples and nations to innovate.

She therefore called on the federal government to toe the line in the interest of Nigerians and the country’s vast resources in this critical area or fail to lead Africa in this agenda to innovate on blue water economy.”

“Let me posit that until recent times, there are little or no critical information about the Nigerian blue water economy, hence the need to revisit and review our approach to certain academic and research driven agenda to bridge the gap.

“The skills gap between education, experience offer and the needs of the labour market must be highlighted.

“The glass ceiling and walls between education and the industry must be broken in order to factor the attractiveness and awareness opportunities in the blue economy”.