At Morocco Confab, Nigeria’s Olotu, Olanrewaju Chart Path To Improved Maritime, Gas Devpt In Africa
By Sulaimon Salau
Nigeria’s Maritime Expert, Mrs Olufunmilayo Olotu has emphasized the need for Africa to leverage on its population, the Atlantic coastline, the natural resources, among others to further boost the economic prosperity of the continent.
Olotu, alongside Energy Expert, Bamise Olanrewaju are among the major personalities that held the ace at the recently concluded Atlantic Africa Conference Debate held in Rabat, Morocco.
Olotu, a former Port Manager of Apapa and Calabar Ports, highlighted the success stories of some countries in the Atlantic Africa space and emphasized the need to leverage on Africa’s population, the atlantic coastline, its natural resources, vibrant youths, rich culture, and traditional languages for networking and collaborative initiatives that will help to maximize the potentials of Blue Economy to boost trade intra-continent.
She, however, leveraged the conference to present a copy of the book recently published by the President of Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport, Madam Mfon Usoro on International Trade, & Carriage of Goods by Sea (Texts, Cases, and Materials).
Meanwhile, Olanrewaju, an energy expert, also made impactful contributions to the Nigeria-Morocco Gas and Pipeline collaboration.
She made meaningful contributions to the panel focusing on structuring projects capable of cementing the ongoing cooperation and integration processes in the Atlantic-African energy connectivity via the Nigeria-Morocco Africa-Atlantic Gas Pipeline viz-a-viz the region’s road and port networks .
The Policy Center for the New South (PCNS) in the University Mohammed the VI Polytechnic (UM6P) Rabat, Morocco organized the 2nd Edition of its Conference-Debate dedicated to the study of the strategic challenges of the maritime spaces of Atlantic Africa. This edition focussed on the theme “Atlantic Africa, Ambition for Integration and Operationalization Process” with focus on the analysis of the geopolitical dynamics of integration and cooperation in the Atlantic Africa and Sahel regions.
It was a gathering of experts, academics, and practitioners from African countries bordering the Atlantic as well as from the Sahel. This diversity of perspectives was aimed at fostering a nuanced analysis of the challenges, risks, and opportunities of the areas and dynamics studied. There were also reflections and proposals on ways and means to foster the construction of an integrated and united African Atlantic area.
The conference was structured around panels which include: “How to Build a Unifying Identity for Atlantic Africa,” with discussions focusing on the importance of developing active ownership and support among Atlantic African countries and mapping the political, economic, and strategic opportunities in the region.
Another panel focused on Maritime Governance and Knowledge of the Marine Environment in the African Atlantic region. The panelists analyzed the legal and institutional maritime regulatory frameworks, and equally addressed issues related to the development of in-depth knowledge of the marine environment in these areas.
The panelists also debated on Blue Economy and Maritime Connectivity as Important Levers of Convergence for Atlantic Africa. The experts discussed the impact of Blue Economy on development of the region’s economies and creation of additional growth opportunities.
