NIMENA Targets Advanced Maritime, Energy Innovation Ecosystem By 2030

The Nigerian Institution of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (NIMENA) has launched the Maritime and Energy Ecosystem Capability Model (ECM) assessment, setting out recommendations to strengthen local technology development, attract investment and improve workforce skills in Nigeria’s maritime and energy sectors.

The assessment, developed in collaboration with global innovation platform Plug and Play, evaluates Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem and outlines strategies to improve cooperation among government agencies, industry stakeholders, academic institutions, investors and startups.

The report classified Nigeria’s maritime and energy innovation ecosystem as “Emerging”, with a maturity score of 43.75 out of 100. It identified fragmented initiatives, inadequate technical capabilities and weak connections between research and commercial applications as major barriers to innovation.

Speaking at the launch, NIMENA National Chairman, Dr. Eferebo I. Sylvanus, called for a coordinated approach involving public and private institutions to unlock the sectors’ innovation potential.

He said existing startup acceleration programmes were commendable but warned that operating independently limited their collective impact.

According to him, Nigeria must move beyond fragmented efforts and adopt a structured framework capable of positioning its maritime and energy sectors as global innovation hubs.

Sylvanus described the ECM assessment as a data-driven resource that would provide a strategic foundation for sustainable national development.

The assessment evaluated five key dimensions of the innovation ecosystem: Capital, Network, Society, Initiatives and Regulations. These areas cover access to finance, institutional collaboration, international market connections, talent development, entrepreneurial culture, innovation infrastructure and the regulatory environment for businesses.

The report identified Regulations as the strongest-performing dimension, while Network and Society recorded the lowest scores, indicating significant gaps in collaboration, specialised skills development and talent retention.

It also highlighted challenges in preparing young people with industry-relevant skills, bridging the gap between corporate demands and the technical capacity of local businesses, and ensuring consistent implementation of policies and funding mechanisms.

According to the assessment, these shortcomings could prevent indigenous technology companies and startups from securing commercial contracts and attracting the investments required to expand their operations.

To address the challenges, the report recommended stronger practical training programmes and increased adoption of locally developed technologies across maritime and energy value chains.

It identified remote condition monitoring, digital twins and virtual asset management as areas where Nigerian professionals and technology firms could develop greater expertise.

The assessment also called for dedicated funding mechanisms for startups operating in the two sectors, stronger investor engagement and clearer regulatory pathways for technology development and commercialisation.

It further proposed the creation of supervised testing environments where emerging technologies could be evaluated before being deployed on a wider scale.

Another major recommendation is the establishment of a Maritime Skills Activation Framework to align educational programmes and professional certifications with industry requirements.

The proposed framework is expected to improve graduates’ employment prospects and prepare them for specialised roles within the maritime and energy industries.

In addition, the report recommended establishing a Maritime and Energy Innovation Hub to connect technology developers with industry challenges, pilot projects, investors and international partners.

The proposed hub would form part of a five-year roadmap designed to provide a coordinated platform for innovation and collaboration across both sectors.

As part of its comparative analysis, the assessment benchmarked Nigeria against Kenya, Egypt, South Africa and Singapore, examining their approaches to investment mobilisation, institutional coordination, talent development and innovation support.

It also recommended monitoring progress through indicators such as the number of startups securing commercial contracts, investment in maritime ventures, graduate participation in technology enterprises and the level of collaboration between public and private institutions.

The report set a target of moving Nigeria’s maritime and energy innovation ecosystem from the “Emerging” category to the “Advanced” category by 2030.

Sylvanus said NIMENA would submit the assessment to relevant government institutions and professional bodies, including the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, and the National Assembly.

He explained that the report would serve as a policy advisory document to guide government planning and support national development.

The assessment urged policymakers, industry leaders, academic institutions, investors and development partners to support coordinated efforts aimed at strengthening innovation, building local technical expertise and expanding commercial opportunities in Nigeria’s maritime and energy sectors.