The Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER) also known as The Blue Council Africa, has commenced high-level engagement with the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 Diplomatic Mission, Abuja to explore a strategic partnership to accelerate Africa’s Blue Economy agenda.
A statement issued by ABER and signed by its Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Medina Dauda Nadabo revealed that the meeting was convened to establish a framework for institutional collaboration, joint programme development, resource mobilisation and coordinated implementation under the AU Agenda 2063 framework.
According to the statement which was made available to Maritime Bits, the Chief of Staff to the Convener of ABER and Head, Abuja Liaison Bureau, Dr. Amena Kartay in a technical presentation on Blue Economy Development in Africa, highlighted Africa’s opportunity to leverage its marine, coastal, freshwater and aquatic resources as drivers of sustainable economic growth, employment creation, innovation and inclusive development.
He underscored the need for stronger continental cooperation to translate Africa’s blue potential into measurable economic and social outcomes.
Also speaking during the engagement, ABER Director of Communication and Public Affairs, Hajiya Medina Dauda Nadabo, outlined ABER’s mission, vision and strategic objectives, reaffirming its commitment to advancing sustainable blue economy development and strengthening continental collaboration.
The delegation also briefed the AU Mission on ABER’s planned strategic engagements with key government stakeholders in the blue economy sector, including the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Marine and Blue Economy, just as it formally invited the Mission to serve as a strategic partner in the development and implementation of joint blue economy programmes.
The proposed partnership will focus on programme planning, technical cooperation, stakeholder mobilisation, capacity development, investment promotion and the delivery of scalable Blue Economy interventions across the continent.
The President of the AU Agenda 2063 Diplomatic Mission, Abuja, Nigeria, Ambassador Dr. Stephen Ben-Joel, welcomed the initiative and expressed strong interest in formalising the relationship.
He conveyed the Mission’s readiness to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ABER covering joint programme development, partnership and implementation, and pledged support for collaborative initiatives to advance the continent’s blue economy agenda.
The Vice President of the Mission, Ambassador Architect Felix Arome and Ambassador Adaji Onu-Ura were also present at the event.
The Pan-African AU Agenda 2063 Diplomatic Mission Abuja works to localise and accelerate the AU 50-year framework for socio-economic transformation. Its core objectives include peace building and institutional cooperation, water diplomacy and infrastructure, digital innovation and economic integration, in line with Agenda 2063’s goals of boosting intra-African trade, youth and women empowerment and sustainable community development.
