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By Steve Agbota
The African Marine Environment Sustainability Initiative (AFMESI), in collaboration with Canada’s Department of Technical Cooperation with African Nations (DOTCAN) Institute, has finalized plans to host the Women and Youth Technical Capacity for the Blue Economy (WYTEC) training programme in Lagos, Nigeria, this November 2025.
In a statement, Dr. Mrs. Felicia Chinwe Mogo, Founder and President of AFMESI, said both organizations recently conducted a stakeholder mapping exercise to assess the technical expertise available within Nigeria’s marine and Blue Economy sector. She explained that the exercise highlighted specific areas where capacity enhancement is most needed.
“The initiative reflects the shared objective of AFMESI and DOTCAN to empower more women and young people to actively participate in the Blue Economy for economic advancement,” she said.
“Capacity building is one of AFMESI’s strategic pillars within the maritime and Blue Economy space. That is why we welcomed the partnership with DOTCAN, as both organizations are committed to developing technical skills and promoting sustainable growth,” she added.
Dr. Mogo expressed optimism that, by the end of the training, there would be a significant increase in the number of skilled women and youths contributing sustainably to Nigeria’s marine and Blue Economy development.
Earlier this year, AFMESI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DOTCAN Institute on technical cooperation. Following this, 20 candidates were selected for the WYTEC Programme based on defined selection criteria.
Co-developed with DOTCAN Institute and implemented in Nigeria through AFMESI as the Hub, the WYTEC Blue Project serves as a flagship international training initiative. It is designed to build technical capacity in maritime operations, ocean science, and Blue Economy enterprise development.
The programme aligns closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s strategic vision for human capacity development and sustainable Blue Economy growth. It reinforces efforts to promote inclusive participation while strengthening Nigeria’s leadership in marine innovation and environmental stewardship.
