AfriCan Geopardy

In this episode, we sit down with Ambassador Fidelis Onu, Director General of the Delta Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (DACCIMA), to unpack how #DeltaState can harness opportunities in shipping and the blue economy to drive socio-economic growth and enhance regional security. ⚓🌊

Our conversation explored how local chambers like DACCIMA are strengthening private-sector participation in maritime trade and how ports and coastal industries are shaping Delta State’s economic future. We also discussed practical ways to align state and federal initiatives to promote sustainable blue growth and examined the vital link between maritime prosperity and stability across the Niger Delta.

💡 Insightful, forward-looking, and grounded in real experience — this episode highlights how collaboration between business and government can turn maritime potential into shared prosperity.

#BlueEconomy #DeltaState #MaritimeSecurity #BlueGrowth #AfricanDevelopment

🎙️ In this special episode of the African Geopardy Podcast, I have a conversation with Stephanie Young-Adika (Schandorf), a PhD researcher at Liverpool Hope University, as we introduce the JustSeacurity Dialogue, a collaborative webinar and dialogue series under the Just Seacurity Initiative, based at the University of St Andrews.

I unpack the vision, motivation, and aspirations behind the Dialogue, and together we reflect on our shared hopes for how it can reshape maritime conversations through inclusive, justice-centred perspectives.

The discussion also highlights the Dialogue’s two-stream approach:

Voices from the Coast: spotlighting emerging African researchers advancing new knowledge in ocean and coastal governance.

Voices from Practitioners: bringing together policymakers, industry experts, and practitioners for real-world exchange on the blue economy, maritime security, and climate justice.

🎧 We hope you enjoy listening and joining us on this journey toward more just and equitable oceans.

🎙️ 🎙️ AfriCan Geopardy Episode: The Role of Community Engagement and Religious Leaders in Preventing Violent Extremism and Promoting Local Peacebuilding

In this episode, we explore how community voices and faith leaders can play a vital role in preventing violent extremism and fostering lasting peace at the local level. Our guest, Dr. Mountaga El Karim Diagne, is a political scientist at Senegal’s University of Gaston Berger. With expertise in religion and politics, African geopolitics, ethics, and intercultural management, Dr. Diagne sheds light on the powerful intersection of religion, governance, and community resilience. He is also an Emerging Security Sector Leader (ESSL) Alumni of the African Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) in Washington, D.C.

We hope you enjoy the conversation, and if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.

#Violentextremism

#AfriCan

Welcome to the new month! In this episode of AfriCan Geopardy, we explore “Building an Equitable Blue Future in Madagascar” with Dr Paubert Mahatante, Madagascar’s Minister of Fisheries and Blue

Economy. Dr Mahatante, who holds a PhD in applied oceanography and lectures at Toliara University on oceanography, fisheries, and climate change, brings a rare blend of scientific insight and policy

leadership to the discussion.

We open with the Malagasy proverb: “A tree becomes a canoe because of the goodness of the land where it took root”—a fitting reflection of Madagascar’s deep connection to its oceans and coasts. With over 5,000 km of coastline and some of the world’s richest biodiversity, Madagascar’s blue economy has vast potential yet faces pressing governance and sustainability challenges.

Our conversation explored seabed mining, unlocking ocean economy opportunities, and addressing maritime security, highlighting how technology, strategic partnerships, patrol vessels, and even drones are transforming enforcement capacity. We also raised provocative questions on how to balance international donor interests with local priorities, and whether emerging ocean opportunities risk repeating extractive patterns of the past.

Dr Mahatante responded with candour, sharing his vision of a just and inclusive blue economy, one where ocean benefits reach the people who depend on them, and where sustainability and equity are at the core.

This is a powerful conversation on technology, partnerships, and

community-driven solutions, and why Madagascar is on the path to becoming a model for inclusive ocean governance in Africa.

You won’t want to miss this one!

#AfriCan!

In this episode, we introduce you to Dr Dyhia Belhabib’s PEW fellowship project: Tracing Illegally Sourced Fish to Consumers. Dr Belhabib was awarded a PEW fellowship in 2024 in recognition of her contributions to ocean governance and sustainability issues.

Dr Belhabib is not only a leading voice in tackling fisheries crime but also a Co-founder of African Geopardy. In the early days of the podcast, we had the privilege of co-hosting episodes while Dyhia was still able to contribute — though eventually, time zone differences and other commitments made that tricky to sustain.

We finally managed to sit down together in person for the first time in Bali in November 2024, just an hour before Dyhia had to leave for the airport. With barely any time to spare, we thought — let’s do this before you go!

I’m only uploading the episode now because it needed some edits and, to be honest, we laughed so much during the conversation that we weren’t entirely sure how much of it to share! But in the end, it’s a fantastic episode that gives real insight into Dyhia’s project and why it matters. I hope it inspires you to find your own way of ‘getting in the way’ when it comes to protecting our oceans.

You can read more about Dr Belhabib’s project here: https://www.pew.org/en/projects/marine-fellows/fellows-directory/2024/dyhia-belhabib Dyhia Belhabib, Ph.D. | The Pew Charitable Trusts

#AfriCan

#PewFellowship

#Findawaytogetintheway

🎙 In this latest episode, we explore "Empowered Together: The Women in Maritime of West and Central Africa" with Ms Sylvia Asana Dauda Owu, Director of Operations at the Ghana Shippers' Authority and President of Women in Maritime of West and Central Africa (WiMOWCA).

Ms Dauda Owu shares the founding vision behind WiMOWCA, an initiative supported by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), established to promote the inclusion, visibility, and leadership of women across the maritime and port sectors in West and Central Africa.

Our discussion looks at the structural and cultural barriers that continue to limit women's participation in maritime careers,

encompassing port operations and logistics, seafaring, and executive leadership roles. We also examine how gendered perceptions of physical capability are increasingly outdated in the face of technological advancement and automation, particularly in port environments where technical expertise is now more critical than physical strength.

This episode serves as a powerful reminder that maritime safety,

security, sustainability, and innovation are strengthened when gender equity and equality are embraced, fostering better collaboration and opportunities for both women and men across the sector.

Enjoy listening and do subscribe to our podcast.

Thank you.

This episode was recorded in September 2024.

🎙️ In this episode of AfriCan Geopardy, we spotlight "Africa's Future in Focus: Empowering Youth for Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding" with our guest, Ms Simone Mbodé Diouf, the African Union's Youth Ambassador for Peace in West Africa.

Ms. Diouf shares her journey into the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) space, what drives her work, and the goals she is championing across the region. A seasoned international consultant on Women, Peace, and Security and co-founder of the Association for the Promotion of Young Women's Leadership in Senegal, she brings grassroots and global experience to the conversation.

Ambassador Diof reflected on the peace and conflict dynamics in West Africa through the lens of YPS, tackling issues from youth unemployment, conflicts and climate change to governance challenges. With youth making up nearly 53% of the region's population and 19.2% not in education, employment, or training, Ms Diouf reflects on how these realities influence peacebuilding efforts and why youth must be at the centre of solutions.

She also shares inspiring stories of youth-led initiatives, such as those in Niger, where young people are boldly leading change in the face of insecurity. We end with her reflections on what gives her hope, policy recommendations, and a heartfelt message to young Africans and peacebuilders everywhere.

You may hear my son in the background. I thought of editing it, but I left it in. It's a reminder of the many hats we wear and a small window into my life as a mother.

#YouthPeaceandSecurity

#Peacebuilding

Welcome to the new month and the latest episode of African Geopardy! This time, we focus on a pressing issue at the intersection of resource governance, organised crime, and security: Gold and Terrorism Financing in the Sahel.

Our guest, Dr Oluwole Ojewale, Regional Organised Crime Observatory Coordinator – Central Africa, unpacks how illegal gold mining has become a crucial financial lifeline for terrorist networks in the Sahel. As gold increasingly replaces cash in illicit transactions, its unregulated trade fuels instability, undermining state authority and prolonging violent conflicts. We also examine why the Kimberley Process and similar schemes designed to curb conflict minerals have failed to prevent illicit gold from funding armed groups.

Beyond the security dimension, we discuss the broader implications of criminalising artisanal mining, drawing comparisons with petroleum refining in the Niger Delta and gold mining in Ghana. Blanket crackdowns have often pushed vulnerable communities further into informality, exacerbating both economic hardships and security threats. Dr Ojewale challenges this approach, advocating for a more integrated response that considers formalising artisanal mining where local livelihoods depend on it while strengthening governance to cut off illicit financial flows.

I am grateful to Dr. Ojewale for sharing his expertise, and I invite you to listen and join the conversation!

Welcome to a new month! In this episode of African Geopardy, we explore "The Deep Blue Revolution: How Digital Technological Tools Are

Transforming Maritime Security in Nigeria" with Mrs Owolabi Gladys, Head of the Deep Blue Unit at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and

Safety Agency (NIMASA). With over 31 years of experience in the maritime industry, she provides invaluable insights into Nigeria’s ambitious efforts to combat piracy and maritime crimes through digital technology and integrated security processes.

We examine how drones, satellite surveillance, and AI-driven monitoring systems reshape Nigeria’s maritime security landscape. But

how effective have these tools been? What challenges does Nigeria face in integrating digital solutions into its security framework? Mrs

Olwolabi also sheds light on collaborations between the government, Navy, private sector, and international partners, the cybersecurity

risks of increasing digital reliance, and key lessons other African nations can learn from Nigeria’s experience.

Looking ahead, we discuss the future of tech-driven maritime governance and the policy and operational shifts needed to ensure the long-term success of the Deep Blue Project.

Enjoy this compelling discussion on digital innovation, security, and the evolving frontiers of Africa’s maritime security architecture.

#AfriCan

#MaritimeSecurity

How do nations coordinate efforts against piracy, illegal fishing, and

other maritime crimes? What challenges and successes define the ICC's

mission?

In the February episode of AfriCan Geopardy, we explore these pressing questions in our discussion, "Coordinating for Safer Seas: Perspectives from the Interregional Coordination Centre (ICC) Yaoundé." with Navy Captain Bell Bell, Head of Information and communication management Division and Acting Director of the ICC Yaoundé.

Captain Bell highlights the innovative strategies driving the ICC's

mission, including the transformative power of digital technological

tools in revolutionizing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). These

advancements enhance the ability to monitor and secure vast ocean

territories but also bring new challenges. Captain Bell sheds light on

the growing threat of "cyberpiracy" and the complexities of navigating

an increasingly digital maritime landscape.

Captain Bell also shares unique perspectives on the root causes of

piracy, emphasizing the role of economic instability as a key driver.

Learn how the ICC Yaoundé addresses these challenges head-on,

balancing regional cooperation, technological innovation, and

on-the-ground action to create safer seas.

Please tune in for a compelling episode that uncovers the triumphs and

trials of maritime security and discovers how collaboration and

innovation are shaping the future of our oceans in the Gulf of Guinea.

You may find this article useful if you are interested in the digital-technology themes discussed in the episode.

https://theconversation.com/west-africas-coast-was-a-haven-for-piracy-and-illegal-fishing-how-technology-is-changing-the-picture-222803

#AfriCan