2024 Maritime Writes Project: Over 50 Participants Ready For Creative Writing Boot camp

2024 Maritime Writes Project: Over 50 Participants Ready For Creative Writing Boot camp


By: Bisi Akingbade 

The Project Coordinator/Convener, Maritime Writes Project, Ezinne Azunna has disclosed that as part of efforts to inspire the development of African literature hinged on the blue economy, over 50 participants have been selected to partake in the 2024 edition of Maritime Writes Project (MWP) Creative Writing bootcamp themed: “Protecting Heritages in the Blue Economy”.

Azunna stated that the event is scheduled to hold at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference Centre, Ikeja, Lagos on Friday, August 30th and Saturday, 31st, 2024 by 9am daily.

She observed that although Africa constantly produces 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 “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.”

According to her, the upcoming 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 added.

Some of the facilitators 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 not-for-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.

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