Gloria ODION, Maritime Reporter

The Media Anti-Corruption Initiatives (MACI) has forged a strategic partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to strengthen media-driven efforts to promote transparency, accountability and ethical conduct in Nigeria.

The partnership was sealed on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, when a seven-member MACI delegation, led by its National President, Mr Funso Olojo, paid a courtesy visit to the Resident Anti-Corruption Commissioner, Lagos Zonal Office, Mr Chukwurah Alexander, at the ICPC’s Lagos office.

Receiving the delegation, Alexander described the media as a critical partner in the ICPC’s public enlightenment and corruption-prevention mandate under Section 6 of the ICPC Act, 2000.

He commended MACI for its commitment to discouraging public participation in corrupt practices and expressed optimism that stronger collaboration between the media and the Commission would deepen public awareness and prevention efforts.

The meeting focused on developing a structured collaboration framework that would reposition the fight against corruption from a predominantly reactive approach to a more preventive and citizen-driven campaign.

Among the areas identified for collaboration are strengthening the strategic role of the media in anti-corruption advocacy and public reorientation, aligning media initiatives with the prevention-focused provisions of the ICPC mandate, and promoting global best practices in anti-corruption communication.

The stakeholders also discussed the need to distinguish between general information and actionable intelligence in investigative reporting, while promoting responsible reporting that can support legitimate anti-corruption investigations.

Other areas of proposed collaboration include continuous training and capacity building for journalists on anti-corruption reporting, development of a framework for data sharing between the ICPC and MACI to facilitate fact-based journalism, and the organisation of joint mobile and community-targeted sensitisation campaigns.

Speaking during the engagement, MACI National President, Olojo, reaffirmed the organisation’s determination to support the ICPC’s anti-corruption mandate through responsible and ethical journalism.

Olojo said citizens must be actively involved if Nigeria is to achieve the kind of society envisioned by its people.

“If we must achieve the Nigeria of our dream, the people must be actively involved,” he said.

He described the ICPC as a key coordinating institution within Nigeria’s anti-corruption architecture and pledged MACI’s continued commitment to using the media to promote integrity, accountability and responsible citizenship.

The MACI delegation comprised Olojo, LOD Onyeji, Tunde Ojudun, John Iwori, Abba Collins, Esther Komolafe and Ruth Sunday.

MACI is a non-governmental organisation committed to promoting ethical journalism, accountability and citizen participation in the fight against corruption.

 Funso OLOJO, Editor

Stakeholders at the 4th Ehingbeti Maritime Hub Summit have called for the establishment of a dedicated Coastal Resilience Fund to finance coastal protection, infrastructure development and livelihood-support programmes in communities threatened by environmental degradation and inadequate infrastructure.

The stakeholders said such a financing mechanism would provide a sustainable funding window for strengthening Nigeria’s coastal communities while enabling them to participate more actively in the emerging marine and blue economy.

The call was made at the 4th Ehingbeti Maritime Hub Summit held Thursday at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, where experts, policymakers and industry players examined the legal, regulatory, security and investment frameworks required to unlock Nigeria’s blue economy potential.

Delivering the keynote address, President of the Maritime Arbitrators Association of Nigeria (MAAN), Chief Jean Chiazor Anishere, SAN, said Nigeria needed to move beyond policy declarations and develop practical financing mechanisms capable of addressing the infrastructure and environmental challenges confronting its coastal communities.

Anishere urged the Federal Government to leverage international financing opportunities, including climate funds, development finance institutions and multilateral organisations, to scale up investments in coastal resilience and community development.

She said sustained investment in coastal infrastructure would protect livelihoods, strengthen economic assets and create an enabling environment for coastal communities to benefit directly from the blue economy.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also stressed the importance of effective governance, saying Nigeria’s blue economy could only thrive where there was a predictable legal and institutional framework for investment, innovation and sustainable exploitation of marine resources.

She called for a regulatory regime that would provide certainty and security for investors while remaining flexible enough to encourage innovation, environmentally responsible enough to protect marine resources and inclusive enough to deliver benefits to coastal populations.

According to her, security, sustainability and governance would remain critical pillars of Nigeria’s blue economy development.

Anishere further advocated improved waste-management infrastructure, sustainable fishing practices, recycling education and environmental stewardship programmes targeted at coastal communities.

She also urged greater private-sector participation in blue tourism, resilient infrastructure and marine-based enterprises, stressing the need for appropriate incentives, streamlined regulations and public-private partnerships.

Representing Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs Bopo Oyekan-Ismaila, said the state was committed to an inclusive approach to blue economy development.

She noted that although the Ehingbeti initiative was historically associated with Lagos Island, the state’s blue economy agenda would extend to communities across Lagos.

Oyekan-Ismaila said Governor Sanwo-Olu had encouraged participants to collaborate in producing a communiqué that would provide practical recommendations for advancing the blue economy agenda of Lagos State.

The Convener of the Ehingbeti Maritime Hub and Founder of the Ocean Ambassadors Foundation, Hon. Olaitan Violet Williams, said the Hub was established in 2023 to reconnect Lagos with its rich maritime history.

According to her, Ehingbeti represents an important chapter in the evolution of Lagos from its early trading history to the modern-day Eko.

Williams identified inland waterways as one of the most immediate opportunities available to Nigeria under the blue economy agenda, but lamented that the country’s estimated 10,000 kilometres of waterways remained largely underutilised.

She called for increased investment and stronger legal protection for investors, arguing that Nigeria could not unlock the economic value of its waterways while large sections remained unnavigable.

The Chairman of the occasion and Chairman of the NIWA Governing Board, Alhaji Mukhtar Shehu Shagari, represented by a member of the Board, Capt. Tajudeen Alao, commended Williams for her commitment to the development of Nigeria’s marine and blue economy.

Shagari said coastal communities must remain at the centre of blue economy policies and called for an appropriate legal framework to accelerate the development of Nigeria’s littoral states.

Representing the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Mustapha, Rear Admiral N.C. Okon called for stronger maritime regulation and effective enforcement of existing laws.

Okon identified “sea blindness” as one of the factors limiting Nigeria’s ability to fully exploit its maritime potential.

He said effective collaboration among government agencies, coastal communities and development partners was essential to building a sustainable maritime economy.

According to him, Nigeria’s blue economy ambitions could not be sustained in an environment characterised by insecurity, environmental degradation, illicit maritime activities and regulatory uncertainty.

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to providing the secure maritime environment necessary for commerce, investment and the sustainable exploitation of the country’s marine resources.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Ekeoma Ezeibe, described insurance as a critical component of maritime and blue economy development.

She said adequate insurance protection was necessary to safeguard maritime assets, infrastructure and businesses against the wide range of risks associated with marine operations.

A major highlight of the summit was the launch of the 28 Inland Waterways Investment Jigsaw, an initiative designed to identify and showcase viable investment opportunities across Nigeria’s inland waterways and provide a structured pathway for increased private-sector participation.

The initiative is expected to support investment in water transportation and other marine-related businesses by drawing attention to specific opportunities across the country’s inland waterways.

The summit brought together government representatives, maritime professionals, security agencies, legal practitioners, insurers, traditional rulers, academics, private-sector operators and representatives of coastal communities.

Participants reaffirmed the need for stronger regulation, enhanced maritime security, sustainable financing, infrastructure investment and community inclusion if Nigeria is to translate its vast blue economy potential into sustainable economic growth and improved livelihoods.

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.