The Ministry of Power and What to Know About Hon Olubunmi’s Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy | Engr Olusegun Okanlawon
Recently, I wrote to validate my conviction that the Asiwaju-led ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ is geared towards fruition after the nomination of capable individuals to man our ministries, and of which I emphasized the nomination of the duo, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu Penkelemesi and the illustrious son of Ondo State, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, as an affirmation in that regard.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has on Wednesday successfully screened nominees for their respective portfolios. Honourable Adebayo Adelabu is officially the Minister for Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Honourable Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo is the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, a fresh ministry.
The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is long overdue; it is one of the few untapped sectors with economic potential.
‘Blue’ in that context is used synonymously as oceans. The ocean is an ecosystem, a powerhouse of economic importance, life, energy, natural resources, and transportation, to mention but a few.
The Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy is therefore tasked with the role of tapping and exploiting our oceans while renewing and sustaining the whole system for subsequent cycles of exploitation. In layman’s terms, it is to maximize the benefits derivable from the ocean while protecting it and availing it of the opportunity to engage in a cycle of self-productivity.
Some of the areas where the Marine and Blue Economy ministry can tap for maximum domestic return include, but are not limited to, renewable ocean energy tourism, fishing and aquaculture, biotechnology research and development, carbon sequestration, offshore hydrocarbons, building seaports, and shipping.
This ministry will be instrumental in boosting the nation’s reserves, fostering employment opportunities, and helping in the sustainability of our blue economy, which is its basic concept.
The Honourable Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is the right fit for this ministry. He is a goal-getter, a growth-oriented leader, and a brilliant manager who has shown that prior experience in governance doesn’t mean limitations; he actually outperformed many of his colleagues despite serving in the green chamber for the first time.
We are optimistic that this fresh ministry will be among the ministries to take the lead in the improvement of livelihoods and the creation of sustainable economic impact for the nation.
The Ministry of Power is one whose effect has yet to be marked satisfactory by Nigerians for a long period of time; it got more complicated when it was merged with other ministries in the past years.
The problems of unstable power cannot be overemphasized, and with the emergence of Honorable Minister Adebayo Adelabu Penkelemesi, our hope to have a resuscitated power supply system is renewed. His skills in managing resources and working out productive measures have been proven beyond doubt.
His distinguished roles in the various parastatals he has worked in, including the apex bank of Nigeria (CBN), are all testaments to his prowess in capacity building, management, and effective leadership.
The Ministry of Power needs a stalwart leader like Adelabu who excels in the qualities mentioned above, which are crucial to leading the power ministry.
Summarily, the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy are two ministries to look forward to when expecting a great change in various sectors of the economy.
Engr. (Dr.) David Olusegun Okanlawon
