Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez
- Oyetola, Dominguez stress collective responsibility in safeguarding ocean resources
BY GODWIN OBI
Nigeria will on Thursday, September 25, 2025, join the international maritime community to commemorate the 2025 World Maritime Day in Lagos. The event, hosted by the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, will be held under the theme: “Our Ocean, Our Obligation, Our Opportunity.
The commemoration seeks to emphasize the shared duty of citizens to use the ocean responsibly, ensuring its preservation for future generations. It also highlights the oceans’ transgenerational importance while drawing attention to the vast opportunities they hold for humanity.
Speaking ahead of the event, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, called for stronger partnerships between citizens and government to unlock the enormous potential of Nigeria’s maritime domain.
On his part, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, reaffirmed the ocean’s crucial role in regulating the climate, sustaining life, and powering global trade. He, however, warned that human-induced pressures—such as pollution, warming, acidification, and overfishing—are pushing marine ecosystems to the brink.
Dominguez stressed the need for urgent global cooperation to combat pollution, protect marine life, and entrench sustainable practices. “While human activity has caused the damage, it also holds the key to restoring the ocean—presenting both a responsibility and an opportunity for a healthier, safer future,” he said.
The 2025 World Maritime Day celebration in Nigeria is expected to attract key stakeholders from across the maritime sector to reflect on both the opportunities offered by the oceans and the collective responsibility to ensure their sustainable use.
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