Navy hydrographer wants Nigeria to optimise its blue economy potential.
To maximise the country’s blue economy potential, stakeholders are being urged to work together by Rear Adm. Ayo Olugbode, President of the Nigerian Hydrographic Society (NHS) and Hydrographer of the Navy.
As part of a seminal effort to elevate the hydrography profession in Nigeria, Olugbode issued the call to action while speaking to members of the society in Lagos.
He promised the NHS staff that he would work tirelessly to take the organisation to new heights.
The Chief of Naval Staff has given the hydrographer his full backing in his efforts to increase Nigeria’s hydrographic capacity for greater maritime safety and security.
Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, Director of Naval Information, stated in a statement that one focus of the discussions was expanding the scope and depth of cooperation among specialists in the field of hydrography.
The NHS and other interested parties were able to renew their dedication to and excitement about advancing hydrography’s practical applications at this meeting, according to the organisation.
With the recent establishment of the Federal Ministry of Marine Resources and Blue Economy, the report highlighted the importance of hydrographers in advancing Nigeria’s marine ambitions.
The need to reorganise and rebrand the NHS in order to improve hydrographic service delivery in Nigeria was a central theme during the event. It was also decided that the NHS should increase its online profile in order to better advocate for hydrographic issues in Nigeria and the broader Gulf of Guinea sub-region.
It is crucial that all outstanding concerns be resolved by the end of December 2023, as plans have been made for the NHS’ 2024 budget year. This led to the decision that an NHS annual general meeting would be necessary in 2024.
That’s why “different responsibilities were given to members towards building collective approaches on how to move society forward, with clearly defined expected timelines and deliverables,” it stated. According to Ayo-Vaughan, everyone there recognised that this moment would change the course of history.
He also said that in order to create a strong, progressive, and unified National Health Service in Nigeria, concrete measures had been outlined to usher in a new age of dedication and commitment to providing high-quality hydrographic services.