MOWCA Chief, Adalikwu Calls for African Maritime Innovation Hubs to Drive Blue Economy Growth
Oru Leonard
LAGOS – Secretary General of the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Paul Adalikwu, has advocated the establishment of a Regional Maritime Technology and Capacity Building Initiative aimed at enhancing technological advancement and strengthening maritime governance across Africa.
Speaking at the 2026 Sea Power for Africa Symposium organized by the Nigerian Navy in Lagos, Adalikwu said African countries must go beyond acquiring modern maritime technologies and focus on developing the expertise, institutions and human capacity required to effectively manage and sustain them.
He noted that the Gulf of Guinea remains a strategic corridor for global commerce but continues to grapple with security challenges including piracy, illegal fishing, trafficking and emerging cyber threats targeting ports and maritime infrastructure.
According to him, the maritime industry is undergoing significant transformation driven by innovations such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, smart ports and digital logistics platforms.
However, he stressed that technology alone cannot guarantee maritime security or economic growth without skilled personnel and strong institutions.
Adalikwu urged governments and stakeholders to invest in maritime education, digital literacy, cybersecurity capabilities and data-driven decision-making to prepare the sector for future demands.
He explained that the proposed regional initiative would create centres of excellence across Africa’s sub-regions, introduce standardized certification programmes, support joint training exercises and encourage research focused on the continent’s unique maritime challenges.
The MOWCA Secretary General also called for closer collaboration among governments, maritime agencies, private sector operators, academic institutions and international development partners to address technology and skills gaps within the sector.
He maintained that strengthening maritime technology capacity is critical to unlocking Africa’s blue economy potential, improving trade efficiency, attracting investment and creating employment opportunities for the continent’s growing youth population.
Adalikwu urged African nations to embrace innovation, regional cooperation and sustained capacity development as key pillars for transforming the maritime sector into a catalyst for economic prosperity and sustainable growth.
