The special assistant to the Lagos State governor on the blue economy, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel, has urged maritime students to actively participate in the 2027 elections to strengthen their influence on governance.

Mr Emmanuel made the call at the inauguration of the Maritime Students for Tinubu and Hamzat Movement (MSTM) on Friday in Lagos.

Mr Emmanuel was represented by the convener of Blue Lagos, Saheed Adesanya.

He said participation should go beyond political meetings and mobilisation to include voting during elections.

“The maritime community must change its attitude toward elections by ensuring that registered voters collect their permanent voter cards (PVCs) and exercise their voting rights.

“Lagos has more than seven million registered voters, while about 3.2 million have collected their PVCs,” he said.

He recalled that during the 2023 general elections, only about 1.3 million people voted in the national and state elections, despite the number of registered voters.

Mr Adesanya said the low turnout demonstrated the need for greater voter participation, urging members of the electorate to stop being passive and take responsibility for choosing their leaders.

He said the 2027 elections would offer an opportunity for the maritime community to demonstrate its importance and ensure that its concerns were considered in government policies.

Mr Emmanuel called on maritime students to mobilise voters within their constituencies, monitor the electoral process and ensure their votes counted.

He identified maritime students as important stakeholders in Lagos State’s blue economy, alongside players in shipping, transport, fishing, aquaculture and other marine-related activities.

Mr Emmanuel urged maritime students to unite, mobilise their members and demonstrate their political strength through voting.

He said such participation was essential to securing better representation and improved economic opportunities for the maritime sector.

Olalekan Oba, Senior Special Assistant on Social Development to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the occasion aimed to discuss the future of young people.

“We should not give Lagos State to someone that does not understand the state. Obafemi Hamzat has been on the seat. He understands the state and is in the best position to lead,” he said.

Earlier, the Convener of the Maritime Students for Tinubu and Hamzat Movement, Temitope Omotayo, called for improved sea-time training and employment opportunities for maritime students and graduates.

Mr Omotayo, who is also the President of the National Association of Nigerian Maritime Students, said the objective of the movement was to promote constructive engagement among maritime students, government officials and maritime industry stakeholders.

He said the platform was established to visit campuses, identify students’ challenges and present their concerns to relevant authorities through peaceful and diplomatic engagements.

According to him, the initiative seeks to connect students with political leaders, government appointees and maritime agencies to facilitate solutions to issues affecting their education and career prospects.

“Inadequate sea-time training and limited employment opportunities are major challenges facing maritime students and graduates.

“Many students spend thousands and, in some cases, millions of Naira acquiring the documents and certifications required to work aboard ships but struggle to secure practical training and employment.

“Some find themselves to be  tailors, not  sailors, because their dreams are not being fulfilled,” he said.

He urged the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy and relevant agencies, including the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigerian Ports Authority, Nigeria Customs Service and National Inland Waterways Authority, to address the challenges.

The convener stressed the need for greater youth and student involvement in maritime-sector policy formulation, adding that the movement would sustain engagements with stakeholders to promote practical solutions.

He also said the movement would mobilise and sensitise students about the importance of civic participation in the forthcoming elections.

Mr Omotayo said the movement would engage students on the achievements and leadership experience of President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State governorship candidate Obafemi Hamzat as part of its political sensitisation efforts.

He commended Mr Tinubu for establishing the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, adding that the ministry provided a dedicated platform for addressing issues affecting the maritime sector.

The convener also urged the Sanwo-Olu administration and its successor to consider establishing a Lagos State Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

He noted that Lagos had extensive coastal resources and hosted significant maritime activities.

According to him, these factors made the establishment of the ministry necessary to give greater attention to the sector.

He noted that the state had an Office of the Special Adviser on Blue Economy but said the establishment of a ministry would provide a broader institutional framework to enhance maritime development.

(NAN)