Africa’s Coastal States Urged to Adopt Blue Education to Unlock $2.5tn Ocean EconomyAfrican coastal states have been urged to integrate Ocean Science into school curricula to unlock the continent’s estimated $2.5 trillion Blue Economy potential.The call was made by Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, Convener of the Africa Blue Economy Roundtable, at the Warri Blue Economy Summit.The summit was themed, “Harnessing Our Blue Wealth for Sustainable Growth and Shared Prosperity.”Presenting a paper titled, “The Imperative of Blue Education,” Kiyaramo described ocean education as a strategic investment in Africa’s future.He said Africa’s 38 coastal and island states possess enormous ocean resources, yet many students complete their education without understanding the marine environment.According to him, Blue Education is the deliberate integration of Ocean Science into school curricula to promote prosperity, resilience, and environmental sustainability.”If the Niger Delta is to transition from oil dependence to ocean prosperity, we must start not at the ports, but in our classrooms,” he said.Drawing examples from Kenya, Seychelles and the Philippines, Kiyaramo noted that ocean literacy has already stimulated youth-led seaweed farming and marine-based enterprises.He said Blue Education would equip young Africans with skills for emerging careers across fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, marine engineering, tourism and offshore energy.Kiyaramo identified three major reasons for adopting Blue Education: survival literacy, jobs and wealth creation, and citizenship with environmental justice.He explained that oceans regulate climate, produce over half of the world’s oxygen, feed billions of people and absorb significant carbon emissions.According to him, African students must understand tides, mangroves and marine pollution to tackle flooding, declining fisheries and public health challenges.He added that the global Blue Economy exceeds $2.5 trillion and offers vast employment opportunities across maritime industries.Kiyaramo also argued that ocean literacy would empower citizens to demand accountability on oil spills, illegal fishing and coastal erosion.He lamented that Sustainable Development Goal 14, Life Below Water, remains the least-funded SDG.”Schools remain the fastest and most cost-effective platform to bridge that gap,” he stated.The Chief Host, His Royal Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri, described the Blue Economy as a transformative frontier for the Niger Delta.He stressed that economic development must not come at the expense of the environment.The monarch advocated integrating the Green, Blue and Orange economies to achieve sustainable development for present and future generations.He said investment in mangrove forests would strengthen ecosystems, create jobs and improve climate resilience across the Niger Delta.Earlier, Executive Chairman of the Warri Blue Economy Development Initiative, Chief (Dame) Ebiyemi Ojijala Omatseye, described the summit as a call to action.She said the gathering aimed to develop practical solutions for transforming waterways into engines of economic growth.Omatseye identified youth employment, environmental protection, infrastructure development and responsible investment as key priorities.She urged governments, private investors, traditional institutions, development partners and communities to work together to maximise Blue Economy opportunities.She also encouraged youths and women to become innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders within the emerging ocean economy.The summit resolved that Blue Education would produce graduates with “Blue Minds” capable of transforming coastal resources into sustainable prosperity.Participants urged school boards and ministries of education across Africa’s coastal states to immediately integrate Ocean Science into their curricula.The communiqué declared: “If we teach Mathematics for the economy and Civic Education for democracy, we must teach Ocean Science for survival.”
