THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has introduced the Blue Economy Accelerator Programme, a strategic initiative designed to identify, nurture, and accelerate innovative startups that will contribute to the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.

The programme is aimed at attracting young, vibrant minds with innovative ideas capable of transforming Nigeria’s maritime ecosystem.

Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola said through the initiative, participants will receive structured business development support, industry mentorship, and technical guidance to convert promising concepts into viable ventures that address critical challenges and opportunities within the blue economy.

“The programme reflects NIMASA’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the vision of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in unlocking the immense potential of the blue economy by empowering young innovators, entrepreneurs, and technology-driven enterprises. We at NIMASA want to provide a platform for investors to identify young talents and invest in them,” he said.

Dr. Mobereola who commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola CON for codifying the Marine and Blue economy Policy as a clear roadmap for the sector’s development, also urged young Nigerians to embrace the programme which has the potential to transform raw talents into big investments in the maritime sector.

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Applications are open to startups and innovators developing solutions across several strategic sectors, including Marine Waste Management and the Blue Circular Economy; Aquaculture And Sustainable Fisheries; Maritime Technology and Logistics Innovation; Ocean Energy Including Wave, Tidal, and Offshore Renewable Energy; Marine Tourism and Coastal Recreation; Marine Biotechnology such as, Ocean Data and Analytics; Green Shipping, Including Vessel Decarbonization; Smart Port Solutions; Autonomous Marine Vehicles; Biofouling Prevention Technologies; and Coastal Resilience Through Nature-Based Coastal Defence Solutions.

The first phase of the programme is expected to attract a minimum of 150 high-quality applications from within and outside the country provided they are Nigerian citizens.