Maritime Writes Project to unearth creative writers

The Project Coordinator, Maritime Writes Project, Mrs Ezinne Azunna, says some Nigerian youths will be tutored for free on how to become excellent writers and be exposed to the nation’s rich maritime heritage.

Azunna, in a statementon Friday in Lagos, noted that the project, in its 3rd edition, was scheduled to start in few weeks.

According to the Azunna, the event will hold in three locations in Nigeria; Lagos, Osun, and Rivers states with participants slated to visit the Tin Can Island Port and Apapa Port in Lagos; the famous Osun Grove; as well as some maritime assets in Bonny, Rivers State.

Our correspondent reports that the Maritime Writes Project will hold in Lagos at the LCCI Conference Centre, Ikeja from Aug. 10 to Aug. 12.

Also, Osun State is scheduled for Aug. 20 to Aug. 22 at Adeleke University, Ede and the Rivers State edition for Aug. 25 to Aug. 26 in Bonny, 9 a.m. daily at all centres.

To qualify for the 2023 Creative Writing Boot Camp, applicants are expected to submit a 250-word entry essay on Maritime Heritages with the deadline slated for July 31.

Interested participants in Lagos and Osun can register on https://forms.gle/re4LCRe4oavBT2ea7, while those in BONNY are expected to register using https://forms.gle/vpriWeQzJnoWT5dBA.

Speaking, Azunna expressed optimism that the 2023 edition and consequent works from participants would showcase real time maritime heritages that could be found in locations where the trainings would hold.

“Interested participants are expected to send in an entry essay and following selection by our faculty, they can join our highly intensive creative writing boot camp at either of the venues.

“Besides the training, participants have the chance of interacting with captains of industry who will serve as mentors during the training.

“We also offer each participant an opportunity of becoming published authors as the best five works from each state will be selected for publishing,” she said.

While revealing that the literary works would be published in a compendium, to be exhibited locally and internationally across maritime outings, she announced that the best 18 projects from 2021-2022 participants are currently being published into a compendium of maritime fiction.

Azunna said that the Maritime Writes Project was a creative writing programme that trains and guides children, youths, men and women within Nigeria to author fiction that are set within maritime industry and convey themes from the sector.

“An initiative by Media Traction, owners of Maritime TV Africa, this project debuted in 2021 with 21 participants making it to the first four-day creative writing boot camp.

“The Maritime Writes Project Faculty insists that while Africa has constantly produced world-class authors, less than one per cent of available works of literature have maritime/marine themes.

“Driving early exposure to literature with maritime themes can influence the career choices of children, with many unconsciously nursing career dreams in maritime professions and offer the industry in Africa exposure and leverage,” she said.