MEMBERS OF THE HIGH TABLE INCLUDING COMRADE OKONKWO AND COMRADE PAUL BAZIA -NSANEH FROM THE CORRESPONDENT WEEK ON Monday, 7TH APRIL
An economist and University Don,Prof Silva Opuala-Charles has called for the immediate Clean-Up of the Marine Environment of the Niger Delta for the blue economy to become functional and meaningful,saying “You cannot have gas still being flared continuously in this region and expect a blue economy to work.Flaring of gas is pouring more pollution into the same environment where you are seeking to operate a blue economy”.
Nigeria has a coastline of 853 kilometers,while Rivers State has 112 kilometers and the blue economy is one that revolves around the Marine Environment and its resources,most of which can be regenerated and exploited for commercial and technological purposes.
Prof Opuada-Charles,a former Commissioner for Finance in Bayelsa State, spoke as the Special Guest of Honour at the 2025 Correspondents’ Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists,Rivers State Council,on Monday,April 7th,2025 at the NBA House,Port Harcourt.
In line with the theme of the Week: Blue Economy-Starting Steps,with a sub-theme: Enhancing The Economic Welfare Of Journalists In A Period Of Economic Crisis”,the Guest Lecturer said “the blue economy is about exploitation and regeneration of ocean and marine resources for economic growth and development but there must be a structure for its implementation”,adding that “Strategy is execution” and that “Strategy without structure is failure unlimited”.He was emphatic that oil pollution is the poison of the Blue Economy and that a few years ago,a UN Study submitted that “thirteen million barrels of crude oil had been spilled into the Niger Delta waters since 1958″.
Also speaking on what potentials the emerging Blue Economy holds for everyone, including journalists,Ms Atonye Wilcox, representing Dr.Chamberlain S.Peterside-an investment guru, informed of several investment opportunities available but through informed and professional opinions.
In his keynote presentation,Mr.Ubong Essien,Dean, School of Eloquence and Founder,Blue Economy Academy, highlighted the wealth embedded in the actual Blue Economy,stating that ” a functional Blue Economy revolves round four factors: collaboration…co-operation… co-ordination and communication” and the role of the journalist is vital and part of the effective circle of the Blue Economy
Earlier,the chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of NUJ,Rivers State Council,Comrade Amaechi Okonkwo opined that with the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by the Federal Government,there was the urgent need for the Rivers-based journalists to do the needful and key in to the growth potentials of the sector,a position that informed the theme of the Week.
Okonkwo said “Rivers State is Rich in oil and gas resources and is a key maritime state, therefore it possesses the significant blue economy potentials in tourism,fisheries,maritime transportation and can contribute about 35% to the state’s GDP if properly exploited and will this positively affect infrastructural development,a key necessity in effective governance”
To achieve all of the above, Okonkwo advised his colleagues to embrace the challenge of sensitising the populace and to also buy into the investment potentials of the unfolding Blue Economy.
Following the positive appreciation of the role of journalists in the society in upholding the rights of groups and individuals by Dr.Chinyere Nwoga,the Special Guest,who is also the 1st Female President of the PHACCIMA, the Chairman of NUJ,Rivers State Council,Comrade Paul Bazia-Nsaneh informed that Council would soon set up an agenda for development communication,in a bold bid to highlight the investment and economic development opportunities in the state.
Paul Bazia-Nsaneh noted that the State Council deeply appreciated the initiative of the Correspondents’ Chapel in the same direction.
On his part, chairman of the Organizing Committee of the 2025 Correspondents’ Week,Elder Ignatius Chukwu-a financial and investment advisor,pleaded with journalists in Rivers State to embrace the Blue Economy now and get great dividends in the years ahead,stating emphatically that “the Blue Economy has come,it will grow and if we here(Rivers State) do not grab it through various professional inputs,such as stakeholder engagements,expository articles, interviews and other informative quips in the media,we will lose again,just as we lost in the oil economy”.
The event had a lively interactive session and was well-attended by members of the 4th Estate,despite the Nationwide protests against the State of Emergency imposed on Rivers State.
