Adalikwu Highlights MOWCA’s Groundbreaking Reforms, Africa’s Blue Economy Vision For Sustainable Growth
The Secretary General of the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), Paul Adalikwu, has outlined key reforms, partnerships and policy initiatives undertaken during his four year tenure as head of the regional maritime body, stating that the organisation has been significantly revitalised since he assumed office in December 2021.
Adalikwu made this known in a keynote address titled “The Journey So Far and the Way Ahead” at the 19th General Assembly of MOWCA held in Banjul, The Gambia, where he reviewed achievements, ongoing initiatives and future priorities for maritime development in West and Central Africa.
According to him, when he assumed office, the organisation faced severe operational challenges, including low staffing levels, weak institutional visibility among member states and limited financial resources. He revealed that MOWCA had only about $11,000 in its coffers at the time, while many experienced staff members had retired without replacement.
The SG explained that one of his first actions was to restructure the organisation internally by strengthening staff capacity, improving working conditions and establishing a clearer operational structure. He noted that staff earnings were increased by 30%, a move aimed at boosting morale and productivity within the Secretariat.
Adalikwu also highlighted efforts to promote maritime safety across inland waterways in member countries through regional workshops and ferry safety conferences organised in collaboration with global maritime institutions. These conferences, he said, were held in Libreville, Gabon and Lagos, Nigeria, with another planned for Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In the area of international collaboration, he disclosed that the organisation secured strategic partnerships with several global and regional institutions, including the African Development Bank (AfDB). Through the partnership, AfDB is expected to support maritime infrastructure development in the region with $500,000 for dry dock development initiatives and an additional $2 million for inland waterways projects in countries such as Nigeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon.
He further announced a five year strategic cooperation agreement with the Blue Africa Conference & Exhibition (BACE) aimed at promoting the blue economy, maritime trade and job creation across the African maritime sector.
Adalikwu also noted significant progress in human capital development, revealing that MOWCA secured a $1.3 million maritime scholarship programme funded by the Government of Indonesia, which has already trained 96 maritime professionals from member states. Discussions are ongoing to renew the programme while additional opportunities are being explored with Singapore.
On maritime financing, the Secretary General said MOWCA is pushing forward two key initiatives designed to address funding constraints in the sector: the Regional Maritime Fund (RMF) expected to commence operations in 2026, and the proposed Regional Maritime Development Bank, which is planned to be headquartered in Nigeria.
He also reiterated the organisation’s advocacy for stronger African representation in global maritime governance, noting that MOWCA mobilised its 25 member states to support the successful bids of Nigeria and Liberia for seats on the council of the International Maritime Organization in the 2025 elections.
Beyond institutional reforms, Adalikwu said his administration promoted inclusivity by encouraging broader representation of member states within the Secretariat, strengthening multilingual communication through English, French and Portuguese, and engaging landlocked member states such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Chad and the Central African Republic.
Looking ahead, he called on member states to improve compliance with their financial obligations to the organisation in order to sustain ongoing reforms and support the take off of the Regional Maritime Fund.
Adalikwu also urged stronger commitment toward establishing a permanent headquarters for MOWCA, noting that the organisation, despite being over 50 years old, still operates from a rented facility.
He further disclosed that MOWCA will commemorate its 50th anniversary this year with a series of activities, including a summit of heads of state and government expected to be hosted by Côte d’Ivoire.
The Secretary General expressed appreciation to member states, maritime partners and the Government of Nigeria for their support during his tenure, while reiterating MOWCA’s commitment to advancing maritime integration, safety and blue economy development across West and Central Africa.
One Comment