Gloria Odion, Reporter

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), in collaboration with the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, has used the 2026 Nigeria-China Food Festival to promote culinary diplomacy, cultural exchange and stronger people-to-people relations between the two countries.

The festival, held on August 27 at the China Cultural Centre in Abuja, was themed “From Farm to Feast” and formed part of activities marking 55 years of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China.

The event brought together more than 200 participants, including hospitality professionals, chefs, tourism stakeholders, government officials, diplomats, entrepreneurs and cultural practitioners from both countries.

A major attraction of the festival was the presentation of 14 Chinese dishes representing seven regions of China alongside 12 Nigerian dishes reflecting the country’s six geopolitical zones.

The diverse selection offered guests an opportunity to experience the distinctive ingredients, preparation techniques and culinary traditions of both countries while learning about the communities and cultures behind the food.

For NIHOTOUR, the festival also served as a platform to showcase Nigerian cuisine as an important component of the country’s tourism proposition and draw attention to the wide range of people and enterprises that make up the food and hospitality value chain.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NIHOTOUR, Aare Abisoye Fagade, reaffirmed the Institute’s commitment to developing the skills and human capacity needed to strengthen Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry.

Fagade said such initiatives could help create opportunities for young people, professionals and entrepreneurs while promoting Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage to domestic and international audiences.

The theme, “From Farm to Feast,” also highlighted the extensive value chain behind every meal—from farmers and food producers to processors, chefs, hospitality operators and businesses that ultimately serve consumers.

NIHOTOUR used the occasion to emphasise the tourism potential embedded in Nigeria’s diverse culinary traditions. Each of the country’s six geopolitical zones has distinctive dishes, ingredients and methods of preparation that can be developed into authentic cultural and tourism experiences.

The Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Nigeria, Mr. Zhou Hongyou, underscored the importance of food in promoting cross-cultural understanding and strengthening people-to-people relations.

Also in attendance was the Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy and Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Mr. Yang Jianxing.

Their participation reinforced the role of cultural diplomacy in deepening the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and China.

Beyond the food presentations, the festival featured cultural activities and opportunities for interaction between Nigerian and Chinese participants. It also opened avenues for potential collaboration in hospitality, tourism, culinary training, cultural exchange and enterprise development.

The event comes at a significant point in Nigeria-China relations, with both countries commemorating 55 years of diplomatic ties. While bilateral relations have expanded into areas such as trade, investment, infrastructure and education, cultural initiatives provide an important avenue for strengthening the relationship at the people-to-people level.

NIHOTOUR said it would continue to pursue partnerships capable of advancing Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism sector, strengthening professional capacity, supporting enterprise development and creating opportunities across the tourism value chain.

Through initiatives such as the Nigeria-China Food Festival, the Institute is positioning food and hospitality not only as avenues for economic development but also as powerful instruments of cultural diplomacy and international engagement.

Funso OLOJO, Editor

The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Dayo Mobereola, has briefed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the agency’s efforts to develop Nigeria’s maritime industry.

Mobereola, who met with the President at the State House, Abuja, also briefed him on developments within NIMASA over the past two years, highlighting the progress recorded by the agency as well as the challenges confronting the maritime sector.

Following the briefing, President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the continuous development of Nigeria’s maritime industry, stressing the strategic importance of the sector to the nation’s economic growth.

The President noted that the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy was a deliberate policy initiative aimed at unlocking the enormous potential of the maritime sector and increasing its contribution to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

While commending NIMASA for the progress recorded so far, President Tinubu charged Mobereola and his management team to sustain the momentum and remain focused on delivering reforms capable of transforming the maritime sector.

He urged the agency to intensify its efforts towards strengthening Nigeria’s maritime administration, improving the operating environment for stakeholders and positioning the sector as a major driver of economic growth and national development.

The meeting further underscored the Federal Government’s determination to harness Nigeria’s vast maritime resources as part of its broader economic diversification and blue economy agenda.

Gloria Odion, Maritime reporter

The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has inaugurated a Technical Committee on accelerating fish production in Nigeria, with a mandate to develop a practical roadmap for boosting sustainable domestic fish production and strengthening the country’s fisheries and aquaculture value chain.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, inaugurated the committee in Abuja on Thursday, August 27th, 2026 .

He charged members to move beyond policy recommendations and develop coordinated interventions capable of delivering measurable results in fish production, food security and job creation.

Oyetola said fish remains an important source of animal protein for millions of Nigerians, while the fisheries and aquaculture sector provides livelihoods across production, processing, marketing, transportation and related services.

However, he noted that domestic fish production remains substantially below national demand, creating implications for food security, household incomes and the country’s foreign exchange resources.

“Fish is an important source of animal protein for millions of Nigerians. The fisheries and aquaculture sector sustains livelihoods across production, processing, marketing, transportation and related services.

“However, domestic production remains substantially below national demand, with consequences for food security, household incomes and foreign exchange resources,” the Minister said.

He identified the high cost of production, particularly fish feed, inadequate access to quality fish seed and broodstock, weak fish health and biosecurity systems, post-harvest losses, and inadequate cold-chain and storage facilities among the major challenges confronting the sector.

Other constraints, according to him, include limited access to affordable finance, gaps in research and innovation, weak data systems, inadequate standards and traceability, as well as underdeveloped markets.

Oyetola said the transfer of fisheries and aquaculture functions to the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy had provided a stronger institutional platform for tackling these challenges within the broader framework of Nigeria’s blue economy development.

He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to increasing sustainable domestic fish production, strengthening the fisheries value chain and progressively reducing the country’s dependence on imported fish.

The Minister recalled that the Ministry, in collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), convened a strategic roundtable on October 29, 2025, to examine ways of accelerating fish production in Nigeria.

The roundtable produced a number of recommendations aimed at addressing constraints affecting fish production and the wider fisheries and aquaculture value chain.

Oyetola explained that the newly inaugurated committee was constituted to critically assess those recommendations and translate viable proposals into a practical and prioritised implementation roadmap.

“Your assignment is not to develop another policy or establish a parallel programme,” Oyetola told members of the committee.

He directed the committee to assess the recommendations against the National Policy on Marine and Blue Economy, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, relevant legislation, existing government programmes and the statutory mandates of relevant institutions.

The committee is expected to scrutinise each recommendation and determine whether it should be adopted, refined, integrated into existing frameworks, subjected to further study or set aside where found to be unviable.

It will also map existing initiatives across the public, private and development sectors to strengthen proven interventions and prevent duplication in the deployment of scarce resources.

“Your final output should include a clear implementation roadmap and matrix setting out the priority interventions, responsible institutions, timelines, indicative costs, funding options, performance indicators and required approvals.

“It should also identify credible opportunities for private-sector investment, public-private partnerships, development finance and other sustainable funding arrangements,” the Minister said.

Oyetola urged members, drawn from government, academia, professional bodies, research institutions and industry, to approach the assignment with urgency, objectivity and a strong focus on results.

He stressed that the committee’s recommendations must be realistic, evidence-based and financially responsible, while delivering tangible gains in fish production, employment and food security.

The Minister assured the committee of the Ministry’s full institutional support and expressed confidence that its work would provide a practical pathway for accelerating sustainable growth in Nigeria’s fisheries and aquaculture sector.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and Chairman of the committee, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Mahmood, assured that members would approach the assignment with a strong sense of responsibility.

Mahmood said the committee would thoroughly review the strategic roundtable’s recommendations and translate them into practical interventions capable of delivering measurable results.

She added that the committee would work closely with relevant government institutions, researchers, industry stakeholders and development partners to identify priority actions, address existing gaps and develop a realistic implementation roadmap.

According to her, the committee’s work would focus on accelerating sustainable fish production, strengthening the fisheries value chain and contributing to Nigeria’s food security and economic development.

Also speaking on behalf of other members, Prof. Akintola Shehu Latunji, a Professor of Fisheries at Lagos State University, thanked the Minister for the opportunity to serve.

He assured that the committee would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to fulfil its mandate and support efforts to catalyse fish production across the country.

Members of the committee include the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Mrs. Fatima Sugra Mahmood, as Chairman; Mr. Omoragbon Wellington, Director, Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Abuja; Mr. Garba Usman, Director, Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Lagos Office; Prof. Ayo Omotayo, Director-General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies; and Prof. Sule Abiodun, Executive Director, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research.

Others are Prof. Akintola Shehu Latunji of Lagos State University; Prof. Sadiku Suleiman Omeiza of the Federal University of Technology, Minna; Dr. Faith Izibenua Zibs-Godwin, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy; Dr. Charles Okaga, Technical Assistant to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy; Dr. Ebinimi Ansa, President of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria; Mr. Onoja Sunday, President of the Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria; Mr. Mashi Gabriel Sani, President of the Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria; Mr. Remi Ahmed, President of the Tilapia Development Association of Nigeria; and Dr. Charles Iyangbe, Country Representative of WorldFish Nigeria.

The committee has eight weeks to submit its report to the Ministry.