ZAINAB JUNAID
All is set for the 4th edition of Maritime Writes Project (MWP) Creative Writing bootcamp as the project coordinator/convener, Ezinne Azunna unveiled an insightful sessions that will equip participants with necessary contents to upskill themselves.
Speaking on the bootcamp scheduled to hold for two days – Friday, 30 August and Saturday 31st, 2024, by 9am daily, Ezine revealed that over 50 candidates have been selected to participate in the program.
The participants according to her will be thoroughly drilled on thought provoking course content related to fiction with Marine and Maritime themes by their facilitators for the two days.
To her, the theme of this year project- “Protecting Heritages in the Blue Economy,” was carefully choosing amidst the low rate of fictional works on Blue Economy.
“Although, Africa constantly produce world-class authors, less than one percent of available fictional works depict the Blue Economy estimated to worth $300 billion with over 49 million jobs,” she said.
In her words, “Early exposure to fiction with marine and maritime themes could be the panacea for seablindness. It could also nudge many children and youths into choosing a career from the over 100 Blue professions. At MWP, participants will not only be exposed to the maritime sector, they will equally be guided to enhance their literary skills.
“We equip participants with the requisite skills and that we will do free of charge, thanks to our collaborators. At the end of the training, participants are expected to write their short stories, closely supervised by the Faculty, that is the practical part of what they will be learning.
“The 4th edition of MWP will be a hybrid event which will hold physically in Lagos Nigeria, while candidates from Osun, Delta, Calabar, Bonny and Abuja will join online.
“Besides the training, participants have a chance of interacting with captains of industry who will serve as mentors. We also offer each participant an opportunity of becoming a published author as 10 best projects determined by our CREATIVE WRITING REVIEW & EDITING PANEL will be published,” she stated.
Speaking further she highlighted some of the facilitators to include-the Head, Creative Writing Revew & Editing Panel/ Dean, Faculty of Arts, Adeleke University, Ede, Prof Adegbite Tobalase; Head of Faculty/ Director Business Education Services & Training, LCCI, Dr Talwo Nolas-Alausa; President-General, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), Comrade (Dr.) Adewale Adeyanju; Associate Director, Global Operations & Industry Engagement, Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN), Vivek Menon and Director, International Ocean Institute, Nigeria, Mr. Akanbi Bamikole Williams.
Others are; President, African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network(AWFISHNET), Mrs. Funmi Shelika; President, Female Seafarers Association of Nigeria (FESAN), Mrs. Koni Duniya; Head, Depertment of General Studies, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic/ Vice Chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors, Ogun State, Dr.Lucky Aikabeli; Clinical Psychologist, University of Texas, Ifeoma Ifechelobi-McGuire, CNN/BBC Featured Visual Artist, Ekene Ngige as well as Yewande Obayelu, an Environmental Specialist & Advocate for Sustainable Practices with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency -NOSDRA.
The Maritime Writes Project is a non-profit organisation that holds Creative Writing workshops annually to guide children, youths and women of all ages, within and around littoral communities in Nigeria and Africa, to author fiction that is hinged on the Blue Economy. The project debuted in 2021 with 21 participants making it to its very first Creative Writing boot camp after scaling through an entry selection stage.
