Campus News

Oyetola canvasses closer marine industry-varsities relationship

By Abubakar Imam and Isaac Lewu

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola, CON, has canvassed effective collaborations between blue economy and the academia in order to ensure the efficient transformation of the nation’s economy, saying that bridging the gap between academia and industry remains a cornerstone for innovation and job creation.

Alhaji Oyetola stated this last Thursday (October 16, 2025) while delivering the maiden Personality Lecture of the Centre for Advancement, University of Ilorin, titled “The Nexus Between Blue Economy And Higher Education For Sustainable Development in Nigeria”, at the University Auditorium. 

He said that higher education is essential to drive Nigeria’s blue economy through innovation, research and workforce development.

Alhaji Oyetola said that by aligning educational priorities with national development goals, it can help maximise the blue economy’s potential for economic resilience, environmental conservation and inclusive growth.

            The Minister said that institutions of higher learning must play a central role in shaping the envisaged transformation by equipping graduates with specialised knowledge, fostering interdisciplinary research and collaborating with industry stakeholders to develop innovative solutions to economic challenges.

Alhaji Oyetola, who is also a former Governor of Osun State, said that universities and research centres must prioritise marine-focussed curricular, invest in capacity-building programmes and establish partnerships with international institutions to facilitate knowledge exchange and technology transfer.

He added that such collaborations will be invaluable in strengthening Nigeria’s knowledge base and innovative ecosystem in the marine and blue economy.

Alhaji Oyetola also said that the collaboration will significantly enhance public understanding of the blue economy and encourage local participation in its sustainable management.

The Minister said that institutions of higher learning can also help Nigeria to unlock the vast economic opportunities within its blue economy by embracing their role as catalysts for knowledge, innovation and sustainable growth.

He added that this would be to the advantage of the products of the nation’s tertiary educational institutions as it will drive job creation and economic empowerment, especially in coastal and inland communities.

He added that the envisaged collaboration between the universities, marine research institutes and private agricutural enterprises would improve fish breeding techniques, feed formulation and disease control. He said that such efforts will not only enhance food security and nutrition but also create jobs, particularly for coastal youths and women, while conserving Nigeria’s aquatic ecosystems.

In his address, titled “In Pursuit of Excellence”, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole,SAN, said that the University is fully committed to alligning academic mission with Nigeria’s  developmental priorities.

He said that, it is  in realisation of the fact that universities must do more than teaching that encouraged the University to establish specialised centres designed to be hubs of ideas, engagement and tangible innovation.

While thanking the Minister for honouring the University’s invitation, Prof. Egbewole suggested a strategic partnership between the Ministry, the Minister and the University of Ilorin. He said that the partnership would be dedicated to fostering research, shaping policy and building human capital required for the nation’s blue economy to thrive.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Director of the Centre, Prof. Waheed Babatunde Yahaya, said that the event was the first personality lecture organised by the Centre since its creation in 2011.

Prof. Yahya, who teaches at the Department of Statistics, said that the programme was organised to enlighten the public on the imperative of collaborations needed to promote the blue economy for national development.

He, therefore, thanked the Vice Chancellor and his management team for their support as he thanked Alhaji Oyetola for honouring the Centre and the University with his presence.

In his brief remarks at the event, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Surv. Abiodun Jacob Aluko, described Alhaji Oyetola as a hardworking and refined gentleman who is also a man of his words.

Surv. Aluko, who led a few other members of the Council to the event, invited the Minister to the upcoming 50th anniversary of the University holding next month as he also congratulated him on the Fellowship conferred on him at the event.

The highlights of the event were the unveiling of the ₦250,000,000  iconic Centre for Blue Economy at the University of Ilorin by the Minister who also promised that his Ministry and agencies under it would undertake completion and conferment of honourary Fellowship award on the Minister and the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, by the Centre for Management and Leadership, Ilorin.

The event was atrended by all the Principal Officers of the University, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Marine and Blue Economy, Prof. Busayo Fakinlede; the Executive Secretary/ CEO of the Shippers Council, Dr Pius Alute; the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Hajiya Katumeh; the Rector, Nigerian Institute of Marine and Oceanography, Prof Abiodun Sule; the Executive Director, Operations, NIMASA, Mr Adeyemi; and the Technical Advisor to the Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Charles Okaga, among several others.