Bayelsa Woos Investors in Sector’s Huge Potential As NIPSS Team Rounds Off Study Tour
By Aherhoke Okioma
Bayelsa State Government has again indicated its determination for effective collaboration with reputable individuals and firms to harness the abundant resources in the blue economy sector of the state.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, indicated the state’s readiness at a dinner organized by the state government in honour of participants of the Senior Executive Course(SEC) 47, 2025 of the National Institute For Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Yenagoa, at the weekend.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, described Bayelsa as a state richly endowed with not only oil and gas but also huge marine resources as low hanging fruits waiting for investors to pluck.
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To this end, he called on private and other corporate investors to look the way of Bayelsa for new investment opportunities in the blue economy sector, especially in the area of developing a deep sea port.
He also reiterated the foresightedness of the present Bayelsa State Government in establishing a ministry of marine and blue economy, and assured prospective investors of the safety of their investments in the state.
The Deputy Governor urged the participants of the Senior Executive Course 47 to act as ambassadors of Bayelsa and tell the world about the potentialities of Bayelsa in the blue economy sector.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo equally implored the team to make its report available to the state government in good time, stressing that Bayelsa was looking forward to the outcome of their study in the state believing it will help in the development of the sector.
His words: “We are happy that you are happy. We are here to round off what we started some few days ago. As we all know, everything that has a beginning must have an end.
“We believe that in Bayelsa we have the potential for a vibrant marine and blue economy. That is why the present administration created a separate full fledged ministry to oversee that critical sector. We are the first state to do so in the country.
“Just as oil and gas, the marine and blue economy is also very important to us. And so, we are looking forward to the outcome of your study so we can see what we can achieve with it in the area of blue economy.
“We want you to be our ambassadors and tell other people that Bayelsa is investment friendly. Bayelsa is also very safe for investment.
“For the participants, I believe that your coming today will add to our thinking capacity and we are open to all the critiques that will come with it.”
Earlier in his opening remarks, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, lauded participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47, 2025 for their choice of Bayelsa and the discipline they all exhibited throughout the period of the study tour.
Prof Ayawei, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, SSG’s Office, Mr Felix Asingbi, expressed optimism that their visit will open up opportunities for the state to make progress in the development of its blue economy potential.
Also speaking, the Leader of the NIPSS Study Team, Air Vice Marshall Mohammed Umar, commended the Bayelsa State government for what he described as exceptional hospitality accorded to members of the team.
He said going round the state enabled the team to have a first hand knowledge of Bayelsa’s huge potential in the blue economy sector, and urged the government to vigorously pursue the development of the sector.
