Gubernatorial candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Akwa Ibom State, in the March 11 governorship election, Dr. Ekere Essien, says Akwa Ibom State, with abundant maritime resources, is strategically positioned in the Gulf of Guinea to harness her blue economy potentials for economic growth and development.
Dr. Essien noted that harnessing of the blue growth potentials in Akwa Ibom would require focused and decisive actions on the part of policymakers in cross-cutting areas which include, institutional development and governance, spatial planning, data management and knowledge creation, dissemination of relevant information on blue growth and blue financing.
He called on the state governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, to consider the urgent need to open up the blue economy corridors through the construction of link roads to the coastal areas to accelerate the growth of maritime businesses in the littoral oil and gas state.
Dr. Essien, a notable dental surgeon and accomplished entrepreneur, who stated this when he played host to the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Bayelsa State Governor on Tourism and facilitator of the South-South Tourism Roundtable Initiative, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, accompanied by the Akwa Ibom facilitator of the South-South Tourism Roundtable and Managing Director/CEO of Legacy Tourism Development Services Ltd, Mr. Usen Udoh in his office in Uyo at the weekend, pledged his support for the governor.
The gubernatorial candidate noted that the construction of link roads to connect the coastal towns and villages in the state, would enable the golden administration of Pastor Umo Eno to harness the maritime resources as part of efforts to open up the blue economy corridors of the oil rich State, adding that natural resources constitute a major factor that spurs economic growth.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Bayelsa State Governor on Tourism, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo, who also doubles as the facilitator of South-South Tourism, Roundtable initiative, said he was in Uyo as part of efforts to interface with critical stakeholders to seek possible areas of cooperation and collaboration in harnessing the tourism potentials that abound in the state.
According to Dr. Kiyaramo, Akwa Ibom State was so endowed in natural resources, ranging from the rich biodiversity, history, cultural heritage, tourists attractions and fine sand beaches on a long coastline, informing the blue economy goes beyond the traditional maritime activities, encompassing a holistic approach to blue growth that balances economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social inclusivity.
He said the development of a sustainable blue economy in Akwa Ibom would allow coastal areas to have value from the water bodies, including the ocean and coastline, with respect to their long-term capacity for regeneration and restoration of health of the ecosystem.
Dr Kiyaramo enumerated marine fisheries, aquaculture, seafood fish processing, trade, technology, marine services, skill development, logistics and shipping, including trans-shipments, coastal and deep-sea mining and offshore energy, as major components of the blue economy which create jobs for the unemployed population.
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