A Nigerian renowned marine scientist, Prof. Lawrence (Larry) Awosika, last Wednesday, November 19, received the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) Appreciation Award, at the United Nations, New York.
The commission’s current Chairman, Mr. Aldino Campos, while presenting him the award extolled Awosika’s professionalism, commitment, and valuable contribution to the work of the Commission during his service from 1997 to 2023.
According to Campos, Awosika’s contribution left a legacy which has continued to positively shape the commission’s current work.
During Awosika’s tenure at the commission, he held the position as its Vice Chairman from 2009 to 2012 , before he was elevated to the position of the commission’s chairman from 2012 to 2017.
The United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) consists of 21 members who are experts in the field of geology, geophysics or hydrography.
The mandate of the commission is to consider the data and other material submitted by coastal States concerning the outer limits of the continental shelf, in areas where those limits extend beyond 200 nautical miles.
The commission also make recommendations in accordance with article 76 and the Statement of Understanding adopted on 29 August 1980 by the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea.
It is to provide scientific and technical advice, if requested by the coastal State concerned during preparation of such data.
It would be recalled that the commission recently approved Nigeria’s extension of its continental shelf with an area of about 16,300 square kilometers beyond the traditional 200 nautical mile (EEZ).
Awosika is a member and technical adviser to the High Powered Presidential committee with Surveyor Aliyu Omar as Secretary that worked hard to get the commission to approve this extension.
This expanded maritime territory is expected to unlock further blue economic potential for Nigeria, with the possibility of discovering even more natural resources that have yet to be tapped.