Oyetola Joins Macron, Prince William, Other Global Leaders at Critical Blue Economy Forum in Monaco

Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Adegboyega Oyetola, recently participated in the high-profile Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco, joining a distinguished assembly of world leaders, royalty, and environmentalists including French President Emmanuel Macron and Prince William, the Prince of Wales. The forum, held from June 7th to 8th, 2025, served as a crucial precursor to the upcoming United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France.

Hosted by Prince Albert II of Monaco at the prestigious Grimaldi Forum, the event aimed to galvanize coordinated global action towards protecting marine ecosystems and promoting the sustainable use of ocean resources. Key discussions revolved around accelerating the transition to a resilient ocean economy, scaling up funding for Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water), and aligning marine science with policymaking to safeguard the planet’s largest ecosystem.

Prince William delivered a significant address, emphasizing the unprecedented challenge of ocean protection and calling for ambitious action globally. He spoke about the Earthshot Prize’s role in funding solutions and highlighted the need to attract more investment into ocean preservation, acknowledging that it can often “feel distant and disconnected from our everyday lives.”

Minister Oyetola, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the forum, underscored Nigeria’s growing commitment to ocean governance, maritime sustainability, and climate adaptation through its newly established Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Dr. Bolaji Akinola, Oyetola reiterated Nigeria’s dedication to ensuring the protection and sustainable management of ocean resources.

“Nigeria remains committed to ensuring the protection and sustainable management of ocean resources and will continue to play a pivotal role in driving inclusive, science-based, and economically viable ocean solutions,” Oyetola stated.

On the sidelines of the main event, Minister Oyetola engaged in strategic discussions with other global leaders, technical experts, and institutional heads. These engagements explored avenues for increased cooperation in blue economy development, marine conservation, and capacity building, particularly within the West and Central African sub-region. His participation is seen as a significant step in positioning Nigeria as a key stakeholder in shaping global ocean governance policies ahead of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, where vital agreements and commitments to expand marine protected areas are expected to be forged.

The forum’s discussions highlighted the immense economic potential of the ocean, with the OECD predicting its value could surpass $3 trillion by 2030, making it the world’s fifth-largest economy. However, speakers also stressed the urgent need for international cooperation to prevent resource depletion, slow ocean acidification, protect marine ecosystems, reduce overfishing, and curb marine pollution.

Nigeria’s active involvement in this high-level international gathering signifies its growing intent to leverage its vast maritime resources sustainably for economic diversification and environmental protection, aligning national goals with global efforts for a healthier ocean.