Victoria Mbangwa
In a bold move to tackle food insecurity and climate change, Nigeria is charting a new course by integrating agriculture with the burgeoning blue economy, focusing on aquaculture, inland fisheries, and wetland management as game-changers for sustainable development.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON, has underscored the inextricable link between agriculture and the blue economy as Nigeria seeks to unlock new economic frontiers and ensure long-term food sustainability.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, the Minister made this known while receiving participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47, 2025, from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, April 30.
According to him, Nigeria’s vast inland waterways, wetlands, and coastal zones offer untapped potential that can drive food security, improve nutrition, and economically empower rural communities. “Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing sources of animal protein globally, and Nigeria must harness this growth to meet rising demand and address malnutrition,” the Minister noted.
He described the 2025 NIPSS course theme, “Blue Economy and Sustainable Development in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Opportunities,” as timely and well-aligned with the Ministry’s mandate. The Minister emphasized that sustainable water resource management is key to climate-resilient agriculture and that integrating blue economy strategies into national policy is essential to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially zero hunger and poverty eradication.
However, he warned that challenges such as pollution, low investment, and climate-induced stresses could stall progress if not urgently addressed. He assured the NIPSS delegation that the Ministry is committed to innovation, stakeholder collaboration, and evidence-based policy to drive the transformation agenda.
In his remarks, NIPSS Director General, Professor Ayo Omotayo, praised the Ministry’s ongoing reforms and called for a shift in public perception about farmers. “We must stop looking down on farmers. They feed the nation under the harshest conditions and rarely enjoy the rewards,” he said, urging Nigerians to cultivate what they eat to foster respect for agriculture.
The visit climaxed with the Permanent Secretary presenting the National Agricultural Policy Document and a Questions-and-Answers guide to the NIPSS participants, reinforcing the government’s push toward an inclusive, knowledge-driven agricultural sector.
