FUTA Lecturer Highlights Nigeria’s Blue Economy Potential at World Fisheries Congress

The Federal University of Technology Akure hosted the 2025 World Fisheries Congress from November 19 to 21, bringing global attention to the opportunities embedded in Nigeria’s expansive Blue Economy.

The event convened leading experts, policymakers, academics, and stakeholders in fisheries, aquaculture, climate science, and food systems.

Delivering a keynote lecture titled Blue Economy and Food Security: Pathways to Sustainable Aquaculture in Nigeria, Emeritus Professor of Fish Nutrition and Biochemistry, Adebisi Balogun, underscored Nigeria’s rich marine and freshwater endowments, describing them as strategic assets capable of transforming the nation’s food system and economic landscape. He noted that fish currently accounts for nearly half of Nigeria’s animal protein intake, yet the country’s Blue Economy remains significantly under-exploited. Balogun, a former Vice-Chancellor of FUTA, defined aquaculture as the controlled farming of aquatic organisms and positioned it as a vital pillar for addressing food insecurity, unemployment, and foreign exchange losses.

He highlighted Nigeria’s status as Africa’s second-largest aquaculture producer—contributing roughly 19 percent of the continent’s output—while stressing that domestic production still falls far short of national demand. According to him, the pathway to sustainable aquaculture requires strong technological innovation, a robust policy and institutional framework, sustained investments, capacity building, public-private partnerships capable of driving large-scale ventures, and deliberate strategies for climate resilience and environmental stewardship.

In a separate lecture, Climate Smart Agricultural and Food Processing Technologies for On-Farm Applications, Professor Anjum Munir, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, examined the intensifying impacts of climate change on global agriculture. He identified rising sea levels, droughts, and extreme weather events as major threats and emphasized the need for climate-smart technologies such as solar-powered cold storage systems for preserving 1.5–2 tons of multiproduct harvests using a 5KWp solar system, solar-controlled dehydrators, and variable-rate sprayers capable of delivering precise applications at optimal speeds and flow rates.

Addressing the congress on Building Resilient Fisheries for a Changing Climate, the Ondo State Commissioner for Education and Professor of Agricultural Economics, Igbekele Ajibefun, stated that ecological resilience begins with the protection of diverse marine ecosystems. He emphasized safeguarding mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs as essential for species recovery amid climate stress. Ajibefun stressed the role of technology—including climate-informed stock assessments, vessel-based monitoring, satellite data, and AI-assisted modelling—in predicting fish distribution patterns. He added that resilience includes protecting fishing communities through diversified livelihoods, equitable decision-making, and climate-adaptive infrastructure, arguing that fisheries can continue to feed millions only when science, cooperation, flexibility, and social equity intersect.

Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Taiwo Amos, reaffirmed the significance of the congress in tackling global food and climate challenges. She commended the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology for its leadership in organizing the event and noted that Nigeria’s rich water bodies—from coastal zones to inland basins—are increasingly threatened by pollution, overfishing, climate variability, and habitat loss. She said that hosting the 2025 Congress reinforces FUTA’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s Blue Economy agenda.

In his remarks, the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr. Leye Akinola, praised FUTA for its growing influence in academic and climate-related advocacy. He encouraged participants to leverage the congress to acquire new knowledge that will drive innovation and sustainable practices.

The Dean of the School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Professor Olabode Adebayo, noted Management’s consistent support for excellence and commended the Head of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Professor Olamide Olawusi-Peters, alongside the organizing committee, for coordinating a successful programme. The congress drew participation from traditional rulers, distinguished academics, and senior government functionaries.