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Blue Economy: NIMASA Unveils Accelerator Programme, Calls for Applications
By prince Benson Davies
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency has announced that the application portal for its Blue Economy Accelerator Programme will open on Monday, October 5, 2026.
The Agency is inviting young Nigerian innovators between the ages of 18 and 28 to apply for the national innovation initiative with ideas capable of driving growth and transformation in Nigeria’s blue economy.
The programme, which includes a National Innovation Hackathon and a 12-week accelerator programme, is designed to identify, nurture and support young talents with innovative solutions that can unlock the vast economic opportunities in the maritime and blue economy sectors.
Speaking on the initiative, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, said the programme reflects the Agency’s commitment to positioning young Nigerians as active participants in the development of the nation’s blue economy through innovation, entrepreneurship and technology.
According to him, Nigeria’s maritime sector holds enormous potential for economic growth, job creation and national development, but unlocking this potential requires fresh ideas, technological innovation and the active participation of young people.
He said the future of Nigeria’s blue economy will be built on ideas, innovation, enterprise and collaboration, adding that through NIMASA-BEAP, the Agency is creating a platform for young Nigerians to develop practical solutions, transform innovative ideas into viable enterprises and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the maritime sector.
The application portal will remain open from October 5 to November 13, 2026, after which submitted entries will undergo evaluation and due diligence from November 16 to December 2, 2026.
Successful applicants will proceed to the National Innovation Hackathon scheduled for December 8 to 10, 2026, where their innovative ideas will be further developed and assessed as part of the selection process.
The selected innovators will subsequently participate in a 12-week accelerator programme in the first quarter of 2027, culminating in a National Demo Day in the second quarter of the year.
The Demo Day will provide a platform for participants to showcase their solutions, demonstrate their progress and explore opportunities for collaboration and enterprise development.
NIMASA has encouraged eligible young Nigerians with innovative ideas and solutions relevant to the maritime and blue economy sectors to take advantage of the opportunity by submitting their applications through the programme portal once it opens.
The Agency reiterated its commitment to fostering innovation, empowering the next generation of maritime entrepreneurs and supporting solutions that will strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global blue economy.
