President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday, advised African leaders to prioritise the Blue Economy to boost job creation and take Africans out of the woods.
Speaking at the 43rd Annual Council of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) conference in Lagos, the President, who was represented by the Minister of Marine and Blue economy, Adegboyega Oyetola underlined the critical role of the Blue Economy and port development in the collective prosperity of African nations, emphasising that the sector holds immense potential for the West and Central Africa when the ports are fully automated.
The theme of the conference is “The Role of Ports in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”
Addressing delegates from 24 African countries at the venue, the President added that Africa’s Blue Economy presents the continent with untapped opportunities for job creation, poverty eradication, growth and development.
Tinubu also urged African leaders to creat the Ministry of Blue Economy in their various countries and tap the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost the economy of the region.
Also, Tinubu said his administration has come up with programmes such as National Agriculture Growth Scheme-Agro-pocket where millions of farmers are supported through training on Good Agricultural Practices, certified inputs such as improved seeds, organic, inorganic fertilisers and irrigation equipments at highly subsidised prices to enhance food and boost farmers’ income.